I am thrilled to have the honor of announcing the beginning of a new chapter in the celebrated history of arts education at Ithaca College with the naming of Anne Hogan as the inaugural dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Currently the dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA) at the University of Memphis, she will begin her new position at IC on August 1.
As announced in January, the School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts—which is currently located within the School of Humanities and Sciences—will come together as the new School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, which will be established on July 1. The incoming dean will be supported by two associate deans, Ivy Walz from Music and Steve TenEyck from Theatre and Dance.
We made the decision to bring these two distinguished programs together in order to remove barriers to cross-divisional collaborations and enhance our ability to prepare students for multidisciplinary artistic careers in the 21st century. Anne is an inspiring, strategic, and creative leader who will bring a distinctive vision for the future while maintaining an unwavering commitment to building upon the proud legacy of our founding as the Ithaca Conservatory of Music.
At the University of Memphis, Anne has led in the planning, development, and delivery of all CCFA programs and policies; the formation and implementation of the college’s strategic plan; and efforts to ensure an inclusive learning community, including the implementation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. During her time as dean, the school increased enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; improved the diversity of the undergraduate and graduate student populations; and inaugurated new undergraduate majors and online certificate programs.
She also founded the University of Memphis Institute for the Arts and Health, designed to foster and secure funding for transdisciplinary research and community engagement bridging the arts, social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields.
At Ithaca College, Anne looks forward to establishing more cross-disciplinary training and creative activities, both within the school and across IC, and to partnering with other higher education and arts institutions, nationally and internationally. She believes it is essential to establish the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance as a leader in diverse and inclusive practices in the arts and education.
Anne understands the necessity of engaging with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders, and will work collaboratively to design and implement a strategic plan that will ensure the school’s long-term success and impact.
This is truly an exciting opportunity to bring to our campus a dean who will champion the strength, rigor, vibrancy, and scope of the total performing arts experience at Ithaca College, deeply rooted in learning through theory, practice, and performance.
You can learn more about Anne’s impressive background and experience, along with what she considers her foremost priorities, in this news story.
I want to thank associate professors Chrystyna Dail and James Mick for co-chairing this very important search. And I express my deep gratitude to professor Keith Kaiser and associate professor Ivy Walz, who have each served one-year terms as interim dean.
Please join me in welcoming Anne to our new school, our college, and our extended campus community.
Regards,
Melanie Stein
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs