Three times is a charm for Mick Cumbie.
When Cumbie joined Western Illinois University in 2001 as the chair of the Military Science Department, it was probably never in his wildest dreams that he'd return to WIU and work in fine arts, not only once, but three times.
In his latest WIU venture, Cumbie, who returned to Macomb in 2020 with his wife, Jamie (Thorman), after serving in a senior fundraising position at the University of Georgia, has been named the interim executive director of the University's Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts (the Goldfarb/Goldfarb Center), effective June 1. He will serve in the role until a permanent department head is put into place on or before June 30, 2027, following a national search. Current Executive Director Anne Lefter has accepted a position at the University of Northern Iowa.
'Mick's leadership and commitment to WIU is unmatched,' said Provost Mark Mossman. 'He will be excellent in this important role.'
Cumbie last served at Western as the College of Fine Arts and Communication development officer from 2023 to 2024. His inaugural role with WIU's fine arts college was as its first director of development, a position he held for nine years, from 2006-- 2015. Cumbie left WIU to serve as the vice president of advancement for the College of Coastal Georgia for one year, before moving to the University of Georgia. Upon his return to Macomb, served as the interim CEO for the YMCA of McDonough County in 2021, and as part-time agent with Purdum Gray Ingledue Beck, Inc. in Macomb.
As the interim executive director of the Goldfarb, Cumbie will provide leadership and oversight for the center, including season planning, marketing, audience development, recruiting, budgeting, graduate assistantships and the day-to-day operations.
'I’ve been a part of the WIU planning team for the Goldfarb Center for more than 20 years and my emotional investment in the project runs deep,' Cumbie shared. 'I am incredibly humbled and excited to be asked to serve in this role as we prepare to open the doors to students and the community and program for the inaugural year.'
His storied career also includes 24 years in the U.S. Army in a variety of assignments in the US, Europe and the Middle East, culminating as chair of the Military Science Department at Western Illinois University for five years, until his retirement in 2006.
Cumbie received his bachelor's degree in Administrative Management from Clemson University and his master's degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
After nearly four years of construction, the Goldfarb Center is nearing substantial completion. The Capital Development Board (CDB), which is in charge of the $119 million, expects the building to be nearly complete in a few months, which means some of Western's fine arts programs – theatre, dance and music – can begin moving into the building, and staff becoming trained on sound systems, lighting and other nuances within the new building. The Goldfarb Center will be open for classes when the Fall 2026 semester begins Monday, Aug. 24.
'Our aim is to deliver not just an academic building and performance venue, but a grand destination and immersive experience for everyone to enjoy,' Cumbie concluded.
Season tickets to the inaugural 'Season of Joy' can be purchased at westernpresents. com. The first performance in the new center is Chicken Wire Empire, a Wisconsin-based Bluegrass band, Wednesday, Sept. 16. Recognized worldwide for top-tier performances and jam-band musicality, Chicken Wire Empire will kick off this year's Al Sears Music Festival.
A special Gold Series subscription, which includes seven shows, starts at $220 per person. The Gold Series includes a reserved seat for each of the headlining shows during the 2026-2027 season. Tickets for each show can also be purchased separately beginning in August. More information on the Gold Series subscription, which is available for purchase now, as well as the performances, can be found atwesternpresents.com.
About the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts
Construction began on the accessible 100,000-square-foot building in September 2022. The Capital Development Board, which provided funding for the facility through Gov. J.B. Pritzker's bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, has been overseeing the project since the ground was broken in Fall 2022. The contemporary structure includes several classrooms, offices, practice rooms, studios and performance spaces. The Great Hall, an 869seat Proscenium Theatre, will provide an ultramodern performance space for music, theatre and dance productions as well as regional and national touring performances, while the smaller Black Box theatre will provide a more intimate space for campus productions.
River City Construction, LLC, of Peoria, IL, has served as the general contractor for the center, with Cannon Design, Inc. as the architect-of-record overseeing construction and Pelli Clarke Pelli serving as the architectural design firm. The new fine arts center has been the number one priority on Western's capital development list since 2006 and has been in some form of planning and/or discussion since December 1972.
