One Year of Creative Vision

When four distinct academic departments came together under one umbrella at Hardin-Simmons University, few could have predicted the electric energy that would follow. The College of Arts and Media was born from a bold vision — to unite the School of Music, Department of Art, Department of Communication, and Department of Theatre into something greater than the sum of its parts.

“The faculty of the College of Arts and Media have a shared vision in how we work together as creatives to fulfill the purpose of the college toward the ultimate goal to bring truth and beauty to the culture and glory to God,” said Dr. Robert “Bob” Rankin Brooks, dean of the College of Arts and Media.

A Year of Transformation

One year in, the results speak for themselves. The college has reimagined education for the next generation of artists and media professionals while modernizing its programs.

“CAM has updated the curriculum within the Art and Theatre departments, and we have also updated the Bachelor of Arts in Music Business degree with three new courses,” Brooks said.

The changes go beyond simple course updates. CAM is pioneering new pathways entirely, including conversations about a Bachelor of Musical Arts — a newer degree offering by the National Association of Schools of Music. This will allow HSU to offer a professional music degree that also includes a minor.

But perhaps the most telling is how the college approaches student preparation.

“As CAM continues to solidify the curriculum, our goal is to prepare students for employment and success in the arts and media,” Brooks said. “To do this, HSU students must gain entrepreneurial skills during their study to be successful artists and entrepreneurs in the 21st-century professional landscape.”

The Power of Collaboration

The magic isn’t just in individual departments — it’s in what happens when they work together. By bringing together the School of Music, the Department of Art, the Department of Communication, and the Department of Theatre, HSU has fostered purposeful collaboration among these four disciplines, extending beyond the faculty.

“As we all work together and build on each other’s strengths to bolster a cohesive community of creative synergy, we are modeling to students what we desire for them in their careers,” Brooks said. “Students aren’t just learning their crafts, they’re learning how to work across disciplines, a skill essential in today’s interconnected creative industries.”

Recognition and Momentum

Even more encouraging than the positive perceptions of the college internally is the response from the broader HSU community.

“We have also been encouraged by conversations with our alumni, trustees, and friends of Hardin-Simmons regarding how they are inspired to see what is happening on campus,” Brooks said. “There is tangible excitement in the air as we continue to develop the new college and the collaborative spirit between faculty and students.”

CAM’s impact extends far beyond the Forty Acres. The college has established impressive community partnerships, collaborating with organizations such as the Abilene Philharmonic, Chorus Abilene, Harmony Club, Abilene Music Teachers Association, and Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, as well as Abilene ISD and other Big Country independent school districts.

But they’ve also taken their talents globally.

The Theatre Department participated in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, last summer, and the Cowboy Band performed in the New Year’s Day parade in London this January. Looking ahead, the HSU Choirs will travel to Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2026, and the Cowboy Band will participate in the Memorial Day celebration in Washington, D.C., in May 2026.

The numbers tell their own story of success.

This spring alone, 35 fine arts events showcased the incredible productivity and creativity flowing from this new college structure. From recitals, concerts, art shows, and theatrical productions to chapel worship services and media recording and streaming of campus events, CAM has proven that bringing these disciplines together multiplies rather than divides their impact.

Looking Forward

For CAM leadership, success is measured not in awards or accolades but in something more fundamental.

“As with any college, success lies in the success of the graduates,” Brooks said. “CAM’s purpose is to prepare the students to find success in their professions and present their unique contribution to the world based on how God has gifted them.”

As the College of Arts and Media completes its first year and looks toward its second, one thing is clear: HSU is experiencing a creative renaissance.

The vision of faculty working together to model collaborative creativity, students gaining entrepreneurial skills alongside artistic excellence, and a community coming together to celebrate truth and beauty has not only succeeded but exceeded expectations.

The stage is set for even greater things to come.