Disaster/Up Against It, a new show at Riverland Community College's James Wegner Art Gallery opens Monday featuring recent sculptures by Charlie Nestor. Nestor’s work demonstrates the creative and expressive potential of everyday objects when transformed by a creative mind. The artist’s materials are often the cast offs of industrial civilization- a stack of old mail, a rack of punch cards or a bench from a defunct factory- that seem to carry their histories with them. Reminiscent of the Italian sculptural movement, Arte Povera, the sculptures reveal the beauty of ordinary things. Nestor’s delightful interventions bring fresh insight to these objects, provoking thought with a characteristic humor.

Summerset Theatre Executive Director Lindsey Duoos Williams announced the 2013 season today. This will be Summerset Theatre’s 46^th year performing in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the campus of Riverland Community College.

Summerset Theatre will also be launching a new online ticketing system this season. Audience members will now be able to purchase tickets online at www.summersetaustin.org 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The online ticketing system allows customers to pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Customers will also now be able to purchase tickets by credit card in person at the box office and over the phone.

Riverland Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, Zeta Eta, was recently recognized as a Distinguished Chapter at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in San Jose, California April 6. This award was given to the top 32 chapters out of 1,300 in the organization. In addition, the chapter received a Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award.

Riverland Community College Theatre and Music departments present the new musical version of a classic story Little Women, starting April 25 at 7:30 p.m. The musical continues April 26, 27 May 2, 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on May 5 at 2 p.m. All performances are at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the Austin Campus.

Riverland Community College and Enterprise Minnesota are currently accepting registrations for a free State of Manufacturing event to be held at the Albert Lea Campus May 29 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Lecture Hall (Room 124). Bob Kill, Enterprise Minnesota president, will discuss findings from its fifth annual State of Manufacturing® survey results that report on the state’s manufacturing outlook and the industry’s top issues. Enterprise Minnesota conducted hundreds of phone surveys and 20 focus groups with manufacturing executives across the state to understand their perceptions and opinions on the economy and other major issues impacting business.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees presented the system’s highest academic honor, the Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching, to four faculty members including Dr. Alan Erdahl, Riverland Community College biology instructor. The MnSCU Board of Trustees bestows the award to acknowledge and reward exceptional professional accomplishment and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching.

Riverland Community College has named Matt Bissonette has the new dean of workforce education.

“We are excited to have Matt as part of our academic team,” said Mary Davenport, interim vice president of academic and student affairs. “As a college on the move with exciting programs and new program development, Riverland is a key partner in meeting the area’s workforce needs and growing the region’s economy. Matt’s experience with the private and nonprofit sectors brings fresh collaboration skills that will strengthen and build Riverland's relationships with business and industry.”

Riverland Community College has named J.C. Turner as the new interim dean of liberal arts and sciences.

“We are excited to have J.C. as part of our academic team,” said Mary Davenport, interim vice president of academic and student affairs. “J.C.’s experience in teaching is important to growing strong faculty, while his experience within the four-year college environment will bring opportunities to enhance collaboration with our university partners. Building upon our current university partnerships will allow Riverland Community College students enhanced options for seamless transfer and additional possibilities for baccalaureate degree completion.”