For theatre and music theatre faculty member Rick Walters, being named executive artistic director of the Viterbo Conservatory for the Performing Arts has been an “energizing extension of my 20-plus years at an institution I love.”

“It means I have the privilege of providing leadership and vision for my very talented colleagues and our programming,” he said. “It’s a chance to give back and continue the commitment to the arts that has always been at the core of Viterbo.”

Walters joined the university faculty in 2001 after completing a MFA in acting at the University of Minnesota and working for several years in the Minneapolis theatre community. He chose education after realizing how much he enjoyed teaching as an acting instructor at Indiana University and in master classes and workshops. He was drawn to Viterbo for its obvious commitment to the arts, and in particular to its professional theatre training.

“The passion and the commitment were clear from the beginning—from the impressive facilities in the Fine Arts Center to the size and the skill levels of the faculty,” said Walters, who earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Evansville in Indiana.

As executive artistic director of the Conservatory, Walters said he will ensure the programs he leads remain responsive to the trends and needs of the performing arts professions. He says he is also looking forward to collaborating with the Fine Arts Center staff to “continue to bring the best in performing arts to the Coulee Region and these amazing performance spaces.”

National student recruitment has always been an important aspect of his vision. Viterbo is part of National Unified Auditions, which is “largely the reason that our theatre programs have gained a national profile.”

“Viterbo students are a talented bunch,” he said. “Each generation has their own energy, ambitions, and approach to education that keeps you on your toes and keeps you young. It’s an honor to be part of their development.”