College of Fine Arts and Communication

Jean M.K. Miller
Dean, CoFAC
Professor of Art
Phone: (314)516-4570
Email: milljean@umsl.edu

Jean M.K. Miller serves as Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Prior to her appointment at UMSL in 2013, she held administrative positions and the rank of Professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the at University of North Texas (2010-13), College of Fine Arts and Communication at Towson University (2004-2009), and College of Fine Arts at Marshall University (2001-2004). She began her teaching career as Head of Studio Art-Painting in the College of Arts and Sciences at East Tennessee State University (1991-2001). She earned a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Painting at California College of the Arts in Oakland-San Francisco. Additional studies were completed at Harvard University, New York University, and Long Island University, as well the American Council on Education (ACE) in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Miller was elected to the Board of Directors of the College Art Association (CAA) in 2010 and President of National Council of Art Administrators (NCAA) in 2008. She is currently Co-chair of the Cultivation and Stewardship Task Force in the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD). Her other professional organizations include National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Americans for the Arts, and The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Ms. Miller has exhibited her oil, watercolor, and mixed media paintings nationally and internationally since 1980. She is often called upon to act as a juror for visual art competitions, most recently at Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston, SC), Exxon Mobil Corporation Headquarters, and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Among her accomplishments, she cites her involvement with the UNT President’s Council for Community Engagement; Design Research Center in Dallas; Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute, Texas Fashion Collection, and Print Institute of North Texas as points of pride.

In support of global initiatives, Ms. Miller has led numerous study abroad tours for students and community members to Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, and Great Britain. In January 2013, she traveled to Bangkok, Thailand with a representative group of deans to visit universities, recruit graduate students, and establish partnerships for faculty and students.

James E. Richards
Senior Associate Dean for Academics & Scholarship, CoFAC
Professor of Music
Phone: (314) 516-4571
Email: jamesrichards@umsl.edu

James Richards serves as Senior Associate Dean for Academics and Scholarship for the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Richards held the positions of Interim Dean, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College, and Chair of the Department of Music. He is a member of the 2005 class of the University of Missouri Leadership Development Program of the President's Academic Leadership Institute. Dr. Richards holds a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester and degrees in orchestral conducting and music theory, as well as a Performer's Certificate in Violin, from the University of Texas at Austin. He studied orchestral and opera conducting with Walter Ducloux, Paul Vermel, and Gustav Meier, and participated in the Conductor's Program of the Aspen Music Festival.

In addition to conducting the University Orchestra, Dr. Richards currently serves as conductor and music director of the Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis. Prior to these appointments, he served as conductor and music director for the Saint Louis Chamber Orchestra, conductor of the Kirkwood Symphony Orchestra for nineteen seasons, and as associate conductor of the Kammergild Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared frequently as a guest conductor and clinician for band and orchestra festivals throughout the United States, including numerous guest appearances with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Discovery Series. In June, 2009, Dr. Richards conducted the New York premiere of the music theatre work, Booth!, by Harbach, Coker, and Yordy, at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

Dr. Richards has recently completed terms as President of the Missouri Association of Departments and School of Music (MADSM) and the Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MoASTA). He has been a reviewer of new string literature for the American String Teacher Journal, served for three years as national chair of the ASTA Merle J. Isaac Composition Competition, and authored chapters on works by William Grant Still, Johann Strauss, Jr., and Elliot Del Borgo in volume III of the Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra series published by GIA.

As a violinist, Dr. Richards has performed with a variety of professional ensembles including the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Kammergild Chamber Orchestra, the Fox Theatre Orchestra, the Dance St. Louis Orchestra, the St. Louis MUNY Orchestra, and the Landolfi String Quartet. In 1999, Dr. Richards received a University of Missouri Research Board Grant to study Baroque violin performance at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. Dr. Richards has been the recipient of the St. Louis Suburban Music Educator's Association's Merit Award "in recognition of significant contributions for the advancement of music education," the Artist/Teacher of the Year Award from the MoASTA, and the Faculty Excellence Award from the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Elizabeth Eckelkamp
Associate Dean for Advising, Retention, and Academic Enrichment, CoFAC and A&S
Teaching Professor of Japanese
Phone: 314-516-5501
Email: beckelkamp@umsl.edu

Associate Dean Beth Eckelkamp joined the administration of the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Fine Arts and Communication in May of 2012. She served as the Director of Language Programs in the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Languages from August of 2009 through August of 2012.  She continues to hold an appointment as Teaching Professor of Japanese and has been teaching Japanese at UMSL for nearly 20 years after earning an MA in East Asian Studies from Washington University in 1991.

Representing the Colleges in planning new student initiatives such as Orientation and the First Year Experience course is central to the Associate Dean of Students’ position and is a role that Beth is very passionate about.   Working with advisors and students in the College Advising office is also very rewarding and Beth feels privileged to be part of a team that is dedicated to supporting students as they make academic progress toward graduation.

Alberta Breckinridge
Manager of Business/Fiscal Operations Specialist, CoFAC and Touhill PAC
Phone: (314) 516-4515
Email: breckinridgea@umsl.edu

Alberta Breckinridge is the Manager of Business/Fiscal Operations Specialist for the College of Fine Arts & Communication. She received her MA in Accounting and Master of Business Administration from Fontbonne University and her Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Prior to her employment with the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Alberta was employed for 22 years by Washington University as the Accounting Manager,
Operations Manager and Acting Director for the Campus Stores, as well as three
years as the Controller for a telecommunications corporation. She is currently
pursuing certification as a Certified Management Accountant.

Linda began working at the University as a senior academic advisor for the College in May 2006. She spent 6 ½ years as an Academic Counselor at Oklahoma City Community College. While there she also taught Psychology and Medical Terminology as an adjunct instructor. Before completing undergraduate and graduate programs at the Ohio State University, Linda worked as a Registered Nurse for almost two decades.

Linda's academic history includes an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing from Belleville Area College, now Southwestern Illinois College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Cognitive Psychology from Ohio State University.

Having been a nontraditional student and an instructor, Linda understands the special needs of adults returning to school and brings a unique viewpoint to the advising setting. She sees advising as a forum for teaching students how to create a plan for completing their degree, while improving academic, decision-making, and time management skills, which will carry over into the workplace.

Sara Ross joined the College of Fine Arts and Communication dean’s office in July 2011. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from UMSL and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies from Mills College in Oakland, California.

Prior to her time with CoFAC, Sara worked as a bookseller, manager, and buyer for various bookstores around the country, and as director of account management for a national multimedia production/marketing firm.

Estella Davie
Office Support Staff, CoFAC
Phone: 314-516-4507
Email: daviee@umsl.edu

Estella Davie contributes to the College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean's office by greeting/assisting visitors and providing varied office support. In 2008, she retired from an 18 year career with a major telecommunications company where she was an administrative manager in Information Systems. Estella started with the University of Missouri-St. Louis in November, 2011.

She has experience in Sales, Office administration, Human Resources, Compensation Management, Customer Service, and Information Technology. Estella believes in academics coupled with hard work. She likes to read, walk, travel and sew.