For more than 30 years, Jon Valpey taught students in the Mesa Community College Theater and Music departments innovative techniques to create play sets as well as how cutting-edge performance venues should look and run. Jon began his higher education as a Thunderbird. After earning his Associate in Arts with honors at MCC, he received his Master of Fine Art at Arizona State University. At MCC, Jon was involved in more than 300 stage productions as a scenic and lighting designer, technical director, and supervisor of technical staff and work-study students. Students admired Jon for his ability to teach the professionalism required to deliver within the time and creative parameters of an entertainment production while maintaining a positive work environment. Over the years, MCC won scenic design accolades from AriZoni Theatre Awards, an annual competition pitting MCC not only against university productions such as Arizona State University, but also professional theatre companies.

After “retiring” from MCC, Jon was asked by then Dean Rodney Holmes to serve as special projects coordinator of performing arts facilities. In that role, he has left a stunning cultural legacy at MCC. From concepts through construction and operations, he helped lead the establishment of the Performing Arts Center and Art Gallery Building at MCC Southern and Dobson as well as the Rehearsal & Performance Center at the Red Mountain campus.

His scenic design talents have appeared throughout the Valley in independent works for corporations, production houses and companies such as Actors Theatre of Phoenix at the Herberger Theatre.

For a link to the full video of the ceremony, please visit MCC Hall of Fame 2021.