Douglass Arts Awards

Meet the 2026 Douglass Arts Awards recipients! 

From theater to costume design to printmaking, these Douglass students have demonstrated excellence in the fine arts and creative practices across a range of mediums and styles. For their work, they've received the 2026 Douglass Arts Award, which supports students as they continue to grow as arts and creative leaders.

Estella Burke DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2027 

Major: Theater Arts with a concentration in Costume Design 

I am currently a junior at Mason Gross School of the Arts, and I'm studying theater design, specifically concentrating in costume design. This most recent fall semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad in London. I took classes at the education department with Shakespeare's Globe and also took classes at the School of Historical Dress with Tony award-winning costume designer, Jenny Tiramani. From my experience at Rutgers, I have noticed that my passion for theater and costume design goes beyond just a love for art.

Because costume design and textile art is a predominately female field, I have noticed and analyzed the history of how important this art form is to women's history, as well as the misogyny within the field today.

During my time in London, I did a personal research project on quilting. I researched how women in America would have quilting bees, which were gatherings where women would work collectively to sew a quilt. As the final part of my research, I hosted my own quilting bee.

Danielle Cole DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2027 

Major: Art & Design with a concentration in Drawing 

I'm a visual arts student, concentrating in drawing, and preparing to move on to my senior thesis project. As I complete my junior year, my goal is to create artwork that comforts some and piques the curiosity of others. 

In my artwork, I aim to highlight cultural symbols I grew up with in the church, such as liturgical dance, gospel music, and the conversations that arose in these spaces, including those about racism and colonialism.

My professors challenged me to push my work by experimenting with different media and forms. I plan to do this by using media such as fibers, projections, paint, and other materials I haven't explored yet. 

Anna Dziedzic DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2027

Major: Art & Design with a double concentration in Design and Drawing 

Minor: Art History 

I am a designer and illustrator exploring nature, human interaction, and history through book and app design. Experiencing environments where infrastructure did not prioritize physical or social connection has deeply influenced how I think about movement, accessibility, the landscape, and community. 

My work's purpose is to provide information, connect people, and influence change.

Julia Hirschfield DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2026 

Major: Theater Arts with a concentration in Acting 

Minor: Creative Writing 

Image: Rutgers theater department production of “Giant Void in My Soul” by Bernardo Cubría. Photo credit: Matthew Pilsner 

As an actor and writer, I aspire to explore the truthful, unbridled human experience through language and performance.

I have worked toward this vision at Mason Gross School of the Arts, where I am soon to complete my acting degree and participate in my cohort’s New York City showcase for agents and casting directors. During my time at Rutgers, I acted in five Rutgers Theater Company productions, in many student films, at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, and at a theater festival in New York City. Last year, I was honored to receive Douglass Residential College’s Edna N. Herzberg prize in poetry. Currently, I am directing and starring in my play, "hell is a middle school girl", which the Mason Gross Theater department selected for their debut Student Works season. My artistic goals are aligned with Douglass Residential College’s mission statement, as I want my work to empower women, challenge injustice, and connect everyone to our shared humanity. In my play, I explore what it means to be an adolescent female in our digital age, from impossible beauty standards, to gay awakenings, to exposure to violence and political extremism. With these opportunities, I will show other young women that they are not alone, that their stories matter, and that we all have a voice to stand up for what we believe in. 

Averie Testerman DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2027 

Major: Music Education with a concentration in Clarinet

Minor: Arts Management and Leadership 

Averie Testerman is a rising fourth-year BM Music Education student and clarinetist at MGSA, Rutgers University. She has been heavily involved in the Douglass Residential College since beginning her Rutgers degree, and has completed the Douglass Curriculum, participated in Global Village and Voorhees Choir, and completed a large-scale research project and collaborative concert/gallery show called Where Our Path Leads, examining the relationship between environmental arts and eco-feminism. 

Averie is actively engaged with the fields of music education, clarinet performance, and arts administration in and outside of Rutgers, as a Student Teacher in the West Windsor Plainsboro School District, Clarinetist in Collegium Musicium NYC, and Arts Administration Intern at Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado, as well as an active participant in several Rutgers bands and orchestras, choirs, and chamber ensembles and member of NAfME, ACDA, and MGSGA. She is proud to have achieved a spot on the Dean's List for six consecutive semesters, and is grateful for the support that the Douglass Arts Award provides. 

Gulchehra Ibrohimova DRC/Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy 2027 

Major: Health Administration 

Minor: Public Policy 

I am currently a junior at Rutgers University majoring in Health Administration with a minor in Public Policy, but art has always been a core part of who I am. I spent four years in an arts-focused high school program where I concentrated on painting and drawing, developing both technical skill and creative discipline. 

When I transitioned into college, I made the difficult decision to prioritize my academic and professional goals, and for a time, my artistic practice took a back seat. This past year, however, I’ve intentionally returned to painting, drawing, and creative writing as a way to reconnect with that part of myself. Art is where I reflect, process identity, and explore themes of culture, memory, and personal growth.

This award affirms that pursuing creative expression alongside a professional path is not something I have to abandon, but something I can continue to nurture.

Cleo Brennan DRC/Mason Gross School of the Arts 2027 

Major: Art & Design with a concentration in Media Arts 

I have always been a supporter of small artists and their self-expression across a spectrum of mediums like printmaking and clothing design. 

I believe self-expression is how one builds confidence and finds the environment they belong.

 I was able to take a screen print class last year and was inspired by the ability to use screen printing across a variety of surfaces.