In March 2020, the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative’s community arts programs moved to virtual platforms within five days.  Since then, the Initiative has served military-connected community members regionally and nationally through music and art workshops, a smart phone photography exhibition to support the Virginia Women Veterans Summit, and a virtual concert.  Join us for a conversation with our community to reflect on the individual and community impact of gathering virtually to create music and art during the past year.

Please click here to register for this event. Login instructions will be shared upon registration.

Our Speaker

Niyati Dhokai, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Program Director, Veterans and the Arts Initiative, Hylton Performing Arts Center
George Mason University

Dr. Niyati Dhokai is a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University, and she also serves as Program Director for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. In recognition of her work, Dr. Dhokai is the 2018 recipient of the Change Maker of the Year award from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the 2018 recipient of George Mason University’s Jack Wood Award for Town Gown Relations in the faculty/staff category. Prior to joining the faculty at GMU, she worked with veterans and service members recovering from injuries in post-acute neurorehabilitation in the Washington D.C. metro area by designing and facilitating music activities to support community integration. She has a B.A. in Music from George Mason University, and she completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in Music (Ethnomusicology) from the University of Alberta (Canada), where her doctoral dissertation research was supported by a Fulbright grant to study in India.

Series Moderator

Troy Lowery
Director of Student Outreach, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
George Mason University

Troy Lowery is the Director of Student Outreach within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). He serves as the primary point of contact for prospective student visits and orientation of incoming CHSS students at events planned by our Mason partner offices (Admissions, New Student and Family Programs). He also works alongside the Associate Dean and the College’s development team to coordinate the selection of recipients for several merit and need based scholarships, as well as the planning and coordination of small and large-scale events. Troy is a United States Marine Corps veteran.