Shenandoah Conservatory is delighted to announce that HGA’s Nancy Blankfard, FAIA and LEED AP, will serve as its honored guest and speaker for this year’s Conservatory Convocation. The program will also include a welcome by Shenandoah Conservatory Dean and Professor of Music Jennifer Smolos Steele, Ph.D., and a special address by Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.

Convocation takes place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. Each year, Conservatory Convocation welcomes incoming and returning conservatory students with a dynamic lineup of music, theatre and dance performances showcasing the conservatory’s extraordinary student artists. The event also features a keynote address by a noted leader in the arts field.

“As we open this academic year, our theme — A Groundbreaking Year: Innovation, Adaptation and Sustainability — serves as both a commitment and a call to action for our community,” said Dr. Steele. “We are entering a transformative era in which artistic excellence must intersect with forward-thinking design and adaptation. We are thrilled to welcome Nancy Blankfard from HGA as our convocation speaker; her vision and expertise in designing spaces that harmonize innovation with sustainability will inspire our students and faculty to push creative boundaries and build a more resilient future for the arts.”

Recognized for her expertise and commitment to design excellence, Blankfard is a skillful collaborator, adept at instilling a sense of place in her designs. With more than 25 years of experience on a variety of cultural, arts and community projects, her work engages users in novel ways and inspires healthy, vibrant communities. Specializing in high-performance buildings that require integrated solutions, Blankfard capitalizes on her breadth of research and project experience. She expertly synthesizes the mission and project goals of her clients, helping successfully reposition organizations for the 21st century through innovative, sustainable strategies and bold designs.

Blankfard’s achievements have been marked by numerous awards. She is the recipient of the Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Fellowship and the AIA Minnesota Young Architect Award. Her work experience includes two AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture and numerous AIA Minnesota Honor Awards.

Conservatory Convocation is for current Shenandoah Conservatory students, faculty, staff and invited guests; it is not open to the general public.