Joe Ostraff, Brent Barson and Diane Reich will Continue Serving as Academic Leadership for Art, Design and Music
Three academic areas within the College of Fine Arts and Communications have received approval for their leadership to serve another three-year term.
Joe Ostraff has been renewed as the chair for the Department of Art as well as Brent Barson as the chair for the Department of Design. Diane Reich will also continue with her renewal as the director of the School of Music. All three have served in their respective positions for three years prior to their reappointment.
Ed Adams, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, had high praise for all three currently serving chairs. “Ostraff has been an excellent chair,” said Adams. “He has managed COVID-19 and a complex move to West Campus and he maintained a positive outlook with each challenge. He looked at every hurdle and setback as a new opportunity to learn, to be creative and to reinvent. He is generous in expressing gratitude for university resources.”
“Barson has been a great leader,” Adams said. “He has managed many difficult issues including the design of the new Arts Building, the integration of the Industrial Design program into the College and the hiring of four new faculty. He is a careful manager and a great steward of university resources.”
“Reich has been a diligent, consistent and patient director. She has managed many difficult issues including COVID-19 with an academic unit that prioritizes public performances, design of the new Music Building, the move to the new Music Building and the hiring of many new faculty,” concluded Adams.
Reflecting on the changes taking place within the college, Adams said, “The progress any organization makes under its leader is a reflection of the strength and capability of the individuals in that organization. We thank Ostraff, Barson and Reich for their efforts to serve the students and support the mission of their departments.”
“I express the collective gratitude from the Dean’s Office for all they and their associate directors have done to further the important work of both students and faculty,” he continued. “All three of these people are building lasting legacies. I am also confident that they will serve with the same level of dedication as they face a broad range of challenges and triumphs in the years ahead.”
“I express the collective gratitude from the Dean’s Office for all they and their associate directors have done to further the important work of both students and faculty,” he continued. “All three of these people are building lasting legacies. I am also confident that they will serve with the same level of dedication as they face a broad range of challenges and triumphs in the years ahead.”