Distinguished UB Scholar and Teacher Honored by Hispanic Network of Western New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Maria S. Horne of Williamsville, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University at Buffalo who is internationally distinguished for her pedagogical skills and expertise in Ibero-American theater, has received the 2003 Guarionex Award from the Hispanic Network of Western New York in acknowledgement of her leadership and contributions to the Hispanic community.

The award was presented to Horne by Juan Carlos Valentin, president of the Hispanic Network, on Oct. 15 during a ceremony at Hamlin House.

It is named for Guarionex, the courageous and legendary chief of the Caribbean Taino Indians, in whose thriving sea-going culture, generosity and kindness were dominant values. He was one of five native kings who ruled over the island of Españiola at the time of its discovery by the Spanish.

The award honors community leaders who personify the qualities manifested by Guarionex and who have made extraordinary contributions to the Hispanic community. The annual honoree is recognized for actively promoting community-welfare initiatives and unconditionally providing assistance in improving the economic and social conditions of Latinos in Western New York.

The Hispanic Network of Western New York was founded in 1984 to address such issues in the Hispanic community as availability of, and access to, public and private economic initiatives and services.

Horne, a native of Argentina, founded and directs the International Artistic and Cultural Exchange (IACE) program of the UB Center for Arts. The program brings unusually gifted theater and dance artists to UB from around the world and supports the performance of UB students at a variety of international theater festivals. She is an expert in theater pedagogy, particularly the Strasberg Method of acting, and in Ibero-American theater.

She is vice-president of the International University Theatre Association (AITU/IUTA) and also editor for AITU Press.

Earlier this year Horne received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors those who consistently have demonstrated superb teaching at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level.

In 2002, she received the Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award from the UB undergraduate Student Association in recognition of the quality of her teaching and commitment to students. That year she also received the UB Office of Career Planning and Placement's Certificate of Recognition for her "Positive Influence on Students at the University at Buffalo as Described in the Year-After Survey of 1999 Graduates."

She also received the 2002 "Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished International Career Honor Award" from the Universidad de Costa Rica, and the 1995 ASSITEJ Argentina Award of UNESCO's International Association of Theatre for Children & Young People.

Horne's writings have been published in the United States, Latin America, Africa and Europe. Six of her dramatic translations have been professionally produced both in the U.S. and abroad. Her international credits as director, actor, producer, critic, judge and scholar include numerous presentations in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Uruguay and the United States, many involving UB students in the IACE.