2023 Bender of Twigs

Jason Flanders is the sort of human you want on your team. His title with the School of Performing Arts is Scene Shop Manager, but his role is so much more. Jason is our Chief Moral Officer. He is the first person to offer help. He brings the sunshine on cloudy days and shares in the heat of the sun. Jason is an outstanding colleague, artist, thinker and friend. He is a truly artful sculptor of our Shockers’ futures.

I admire the talent and intelligence of all my colleagues here at WSU. We all teach and advise our students. We all share knowledge and techniques. Jason, though, goes beyond. He shares his love of the arts and his love of the future artist with all our students. His generous sharing of knowledge and experience goes well beyond my ability to describe. Jason is an inspiration and a teacher – not just for his students, but for the arts writ large.

My words here cannot describe or contain the spirit that Jason brings to the university. We are all a little better for his presence. Our students are all richer and better prepared for the world that we are sending them into. He models friendship, teaching, and wisdom.

Jason is a Bender of Twigs.