By Alvaro Ayala

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 1, 2025 – Richard Burrows has had many roles in life – from contemporary dancer on tour, to tenured professor, to executive consultant for a nonprofit helping fund arts programs in communities and schools across the country.

Now, as director of the newly created UTRGV Arts program within the College of Fine Arts, he is ready to bring all of those experiences to UTRGV, to help increase the Valley community’s access to and appreciation for the university’s arts endeavors.

"I'm excited to unveil new experiences here on the UTRGV campuses across the Rio Grande Valley," Burrows said. “I have a clear understanding of what motivates students who want to become professional artists, and I have experience working with arts faculty who are passionate about what they do.”

Appointed in the Spring, he has been charged with providing senior-level oversight of all campus performances and exhibitions for the College of Fine Arts, as well as all external presentations at the university. He also will work collaboratively with cities and other community partners across the Valley to develop the area as a destination for arts and culture.

"Arts and culture are great healing agents for communities because they are a way for people to communicate across platforms and ideas," Burrows said. "We want UTRGV Arts to be a way for people to have wonderful experiences. And we want to create a path for everyone to new, exciting and innovative learning and entertainment.”

"His long-range goals, he said, are to make UTRGV a cultural destination by increasing university and community partnerships; to improve funding opportunities for the arts both internally and externally; and to bring national recognition to the creative works of UTRGV students."

The key to making that happen, he said, is to enhance community engagement by actively listening to the needs and aspirations of students, faculty and the broader arts community.

REHEARSALS & PERFORMANCES

Before starting at UTRGV, Burrows’ journey included leapfrogging in some 38 moves across the United States.

"I'm just really a child of America," said Burrows, 72. "I’ve lived in many different places."

Born in 1953 in Miles City, Montana, the son of an oil worker, he never got to settle in one place for long.

"My parents always made sure that we did sports, arts, culture, and we learned the history of every place we lived in," Burrows said. "That’s why I've been able to adapt to each move, because I have the skills to drop into someplace new to me, like the Valley, and learn what’s at its heart."

Burrows earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in modern dance from the University of Utah, then joined a Salt Lake City-based touring dance company, the Repertory Dance Theater. He spent the next 22 years there, traveling throughout the Americas, Europe and other territories abroad. Between tours, he lectured as an assistant professor at the University of Utah, University of California-Riverside, and Ohio State University.

When the physical demands of dance and touring caught up with him, he knew it was time to put his dance career to rest, so he focused exclusively on teaching the arts.

Already a tenured professor at the time, he went back to the career drawing board, resigning from teaching to “retool” himself for executive opportunities. For more than two decades, he held executive roles at nonprofit organizations around the country, consulting with local schools, universities and municipalities to fund educational arts programs.

COMING TO THE VALLEY

When Burrows first heard about the position at UTRGV, he knew immediately that the Vaquero boots were the perfect fit for him.

"It seemed the position was tailored for me," he said. "I think about the components of my life as a performing artist, a choreographer and a presenter, and I understand the drive these students have to become professional artists or teachers."

Today, as he adjusts to his newest normal, Burrows is learning about the Valley community and working to connect with UTRGV staff and students.

"Arts and culture are great healing agents for communities because they are a way for people to communicate across platforms and ideas," he said. "I want the arts at UTRGV to be seen as a place to go when people want a new, exciting and innovative experience.”

Story edited by Marci Caltabiano-Ponce