Sheree Meyer, dean of 萨克拉门托州’s College of Arts and Letters, is working to put the University's humanities programs "on the map."The new dean at 萨克拉门托州’s College of Arts and Letters has ambitious plans for giving the University’s humanities programs more visibility and a stronger presence in the community.
7月1日，担任临时院长的谢莉·梅耶（Sheree Meyer）正式接任。
“We need to put ourselves on the map. And, while it may take 10, 20 years - and I won’t be here as dean anymore - we have to start talking now about a performing and visual arts center,” she says.
梅耶是大黄蜂社区的长期成员，1991年开始担任英语教授，来自石溪大学和布林莫尔。 She is the founder of 萨克拉门托州’s One Book Program, and has served as the English Department chair, and dean of undergraduate studies.
她从小就对历史、文学和表演等领域产生了兴趣。 Meyer was 6 and living in Rochester, N.Y., when her mother took her to an audition for 国王与我 being staged by a nonprofit as a fundraiser for local firefighters.
“I had no concept what the audition meant,” she says. “I think I sang ‘Little Sir Echo.’ ” She was given the role of one of the Siamese princesses. Later she had a part in 音乐人 and played Gretl in 音乐之声.
Meyer read 简·格雷小姐，不情愿的王后 when she was 8 and fell in love with the Early Modern period of English literature and history. 她还学习美国原住民历史，上音乐课，在唱诗班唱歌，并在伊士曼剧院表演音乐剧。
后来，她和丈夫大卫（David）加入了“北极光”（Northern Lights）乐队，表演詹姆斯·泰勒（James Taylor）等艺术家的民间音乐； 克罗斯比，斯蒂尔斯，纳什和杨； 靛蓝女孩; 还有保罗·西蒙。
她的教育之路更加曲折。 Meyer considered several options until receiving a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook’s grad program and discovering how rewarding being a college instructor could be.
“As soon as I got into the classroom and could talk about the things that I love, and could interact with the students, it was an immediate magical moment,” she says.
Meyer says putting the College of Arts and Letters “on the map” involves several approaches, including partnerships. 她热衷于在整个地区维持和创造更多的合作机会。 她是蓝线艺术（Blue Line Arts）的董事会成员，与他们一起获得一笔赠款，将食物问题和艺术结合起来，为幼儿提供快闪体验。
Meyer also sees 萨克拉门托州’s upcoming downtown campus as the beginning of a possible arts corridor with the campus at its hub. 虽然S街的大楼计划容纳大部分正在发展的公共事务学院，但迈耶也设想了艺术和文学的存在。 往北走几个街区就是克罗克艺术博物馆（Crocker Art Museum），这里已经举办了u - ite！ 与萨克州立大学的艺术庆典。 To the east are galleries such as the Verge and Beatnik Studios, home to the University’s U-Create! 庆祝。
And the nearby Old 萨克拉门托州 Park represents partnership opportunities with Arts and Letters’ Public History Program.
“It’s a literal map but also puts us metaphorically on the map in all kinds of community relationships,” Meyer says.
从长远来看，迈耶设想在校园里建立一个表演艺术中心。 Even though it probably wouldn’t happen for a decade or more, Meyer says if it’s to get done, work must begin now.
梅耶敏锐地意识到人们对人文学科的兴趣正在下降，但他坚信，人文学科在课程中的存在可以激发批判性思维，提高注意力，提高数学技能。
“We need to make the argument and show the students how the skill sets they’re acquiring, whether it’s in music or philosophy, will make them career ready, whatever career they choose.”
尽管她有很多事情要忙，迈耶还是抽出时间来扩大自己的艺术兴趣。 She recently appeared in 囊状态’s production of 男孩和娃娃, she sings in her synagogue’s choir, teaches Israeli literature, and, occasionally, she and David perform their folky music at various spots around town.
For more information about Meyer, visit csus.edu/al or call (916) 278-6502. For media assistance, call the University’s Public Affairs office at (916) 278 - 6156. – 克雷格Koscho
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