The next time you're wandering through Kaufman Hall, don't be alarmed if a fireball of energy charges past you leaving a wake of creative ideas and a fresh perspective. The whirling dervish is not the Tasmanian Devil, but the spirited and talented Lane Dare, director of communications for the College of Engineering and Technology.

Dare, who began the newly created position last April, is responsible for marketing, recruitment and publications for the college. But her skill at translating the technical tongue of engineers belies her vast experience as a champion of cultural organizations, a producer and announcer in public radio and an accomplished pianist and rhythm-band member.

"Lane has brought a new dimension of skills and professional talents to the office," said William Swart, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology. "I think the fact that she has a completely different background than is typical in a university dean's office adds to her value in that it extends, as opposed to duplicates, our capabilities. Her spunk and enthusiasm is infectious."

A Norfolk native, Dare was surrounded by music as a child and began playing the piano at an early age. Although classically trained, Dare said she likes all types of music. Anyone who has heard her play would agree that Dare has the talent to pursue a full-time career as a musician. But it wasn't what she wanted.

"I recognized that if I wanted to continue a career as a pianist it not only meant leaving the area, but also trading a daytime life for the night life of shows and performances. I wasn't willing to do that."

But that choice didn't mean she would have to give up her passion for music altogether.

Instead of her profession, it has become her avocation. She has organized adult and children's programs at the Jewish Community Center, worked as an accompanist and coach for Old Dominion music workshops, and created an after-school program at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Dare performed for numerous cabaret shows, conducted theater music at Norfolk's now defunct Cavalier Theater and the Virginia Stage Company's children's theater, and continues to play in a rhythm band.

"It's nothing unusual to come over to my house where a group of friends will be playing and singing," she said.

Dare has also parlayed an obvious affinity for the cultural arts - and an excellent ability to communicate - into a successful career as public relations professional, fund raiser, on-air host and educator.

Dare, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Old Dominion, served as host and editor of "On Center," a 13-week radio series on the planning, building and grand opening of the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and as development and special projects manager for the Museum of History and Science in Louisville, Ky.

It was also during her three years in Louisville that Dare began her fervent commitment to public radio and television, a dedication that continues to this day at WHRO, where she is a producer and announcer. Tune in to WHRO-TV or WHRV-FM any day during their fund drives and you're likely to see or hear Dare giving a pep talk encouraging Hampton Roads residents to support the stations' programming.

"Joseph Campbell said we should follow our bliss," said Dare, who noted that she was born with abundant energy. "I've made the best assessment of the gifts I have; weighed what I love and my values. They all come down to communicating, music, language and persuasion."

Dare's current position is not the first at Old Dominion to which she's brought her talents and skills. She served as arts marketing coordinator for the College of Arts and Letters in the late '80s and early '90s and is now an instructor for freshman-level composition courses.

But her position in the College of Engineering and Technology might be the most ambitious. In addition to redesigning the college's biannual newsletter, extending its circulation to more than 27,000 and instituting an electronic version of the college's weekly newsletter, Dare is organizing "Womengineers Day," a new initiative aimed at the education, recruitment and retention of women in the engineering field.

"A recent National Science Foundation report to Congress shows that women, along with minorities and persons with disabilities, are woefully underrepresented in science, math and engineering," Dare explained, adding that Womengineers will address this need and provide solutions. "We will be kicking off our new era on April 21 with Womengineers Day and expect to host well over 1,000 women on campus.

"We hope to make Womengineers Day the event horizon of an initiative that will focus the attention of our entire community on women engineers."

Those who know her have no doubt she'll be successful.