Meadows 2050 Council

Alumni and Career Success

Comprised of approximately twenty-five graduates of the past two decades, the Meadows 2050 Council serves as the primary alumni advisory group for the dean of the ��vlog��Ƶ Meadows School of the Arts. The Council informs the future vision, strategic planning, and decision-making related to alumni engagement and career development opportunities, while defining and implementing action items in support of these initiatives.

Requirements of Membership

To be eligible for service, candidates must be degreed graduate or undergraduate alumni of ��vlog��Ƶ who graduated within the prior two decades. Members are asked to make every effort to attend at least one of two Council meetings per year, which are presented virtually via Zoom. Members serve a two-year term with an option to renew service for a third year.

Interested in Council Service?

Council members are appointed by the dean of the Meadows School of the Arts. Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to . Questions? Contact meadowsalumni@smu.edu.

2025 – 26 Meadows 2050 Council Members

Saniha Aziz Chakravarthy ’19, ’22

Council Chair
B.A., Journalism, B.B.A., Finance, &
M.S., Applied Economics & Predictive Analytics
Executive Communications Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Thane Economou ’10

Immediate Past Council Chair
B.A., Cinema-Television & B.B.A.
Writer & Director
Culver City, California

Charles Beavers ’17

Master of Arts in International Arts Management (MMIAM)
Director of Philanthropy, Resource Center
Fort Worth, Texas

Palmer E. Beldy ’22

B.A., Advertising and B.A., Public Relations and Strategic Communication
Copywriter, Momentum Worldwide
Washington, D.C.

Willow Blythe-Carroll ’13

B.A., Journalism
Founder and CEO, Weaving Wisdom
Rockwall, Texas

Dan Carrillo Levy ’09

B.A., Cinema-Television
Writer, Director, and Producer
West Hollywood, California

Jer'Lisa J. Devezin ’19

M.F.A., Art
Assistant Professor of Studio Art (Sculpture and Material Studies), Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana

Nicolás González ’16

B.F.A., Art with minor in Art History
Muralist
Dallas, Texas

Derek W. Hawkes ’14

B.M., Trombone Performance and B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts (Orchestra Management)
Consultant, World Wide Technology
St. Louis, Missouri

Lee A. Helms ’08

B.F.A., Theatre
Consultant
New York, New York

Samantha M. Klaassen ’18

B.A., Fashion Media & Journalism with minor in Graphic Design
Senior Assistant Buyer, Women's Designer Ready to Wear, Bloomingdale's
New York, New York

Mark A. Lau ’06

B.A., Advertising & B.B.A., Marketing
Global Director, Ekin and Heritage, Nike Retail Marketing
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Adrienne Lichliter-Hines ’09, ’10

B.A., Art History with minor in French & B.A, Studio Art
Manager of Communications & International Projects, Nasher Sculpture Center
President, Advisory Board, Corsicana Artist & Writers Residency
Dallas, Texas

Ariel Martin ’19

M.A., Design and Innovation
Director, Digital Product Design, Ford Motor Company
Dallas, Texas

Gregory M. Oertel ’15

M.A./M.B.A.
Director of Philanthropic Services, Communities Foundation of Texas
Dallas, Texas

Emily Walsh Potts ’15

B.A., Public Relations & Strategic Communication
with minors in English and Spanish
Founder, EGP Strategies and Adjunct Professor, ��vlog��Ƶ Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs
President, ��vlog��Ƶ CCPA Alumni Council
Dallas, Texas

Olivia A. Smith ’11

B.F.A., Studio Art with minors in Art History & English
Co-founder & Director, Magenta Plains Gallery
New York, New York

Claudia E. Zapata ’22

Ph.D., Art History
Associate Curator of Latino Art, Blanton Museum
Austin, Texas

Leonardo Zuno Fernández, Ph.D. ’05, ’07

M.M., Music Theory and M.M., Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Dallas ISD, Head of Piano Studies
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Desoto, Texas

Not Pictured

Janine N. Beckles ’04

B.A., Dance Performance & B.A., Sociology
Principal Dancer/Assistant to Artistic Director, Philadanco
Adjunct Professor of Dance, Rowan University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lee T. Duveneck ’10

B.F.A., Dance Performance
Dancer, Paul Taylor Dance Company
New York, New York