UK taps longtime Ohio State faculty member as dean of College of Fine Arts
The University of Kentucky has named longtime Ohio State University faculty member and administrator Mark Shanda as the new dean of the College of Fine Arts.
“During my interview process, with each conversation, I became more impressed with the faculty, staff and students of the university,” Shanda said in a UK news release. “Their shared passion for the arts and all things blue were infectious, and my wife, Ginny, and I greatly look forward to joining the UK family.”
UK Provost Tim Tracy said, “Professor Shanda is an internationally renowned leader, with transformative contributions to the field of fine arts. His core values of excellence and innovation support the college’s and university’s vision for the future.”
Shanda is a professor and season producer in the Ohio State Department of Theater. He joined the theater faculty at Ohio State in 1986 and became chair of the theater department. He was the divisional dean of arts and humanities in Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences from 2011 to 2015. He also co-founded the Ohio State University/Port Clinton Performing Arts Festival, which features the school’s students and faculty in non-traditional venues, and he won the career services award for outstanding service to undergraduate students.
Shanda also is president of the United States Institute for Theater Technology and is co-author of the widely used textbook “Drafting for the Theatre,” and “Technical Management for the Performing Arts,” and he is a regular contributor to Theatre Design and Technology magazine. In 1998, he won the gold medallion at the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival for contributions to the teaching and performing of theater and quality at the event.
Shanda has been technical director for more than 200 productions and was a technical and architectural consultant on a variety of projects.
Shanda’s appointment is pending approval by the UK Board of Trustees. If approved, his tenure will begin Sept. 1. He owuld succeed Michael Tick, who was dean from 2010 to May 2016 before departing to become dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University, and interim dean David Sogin.
As dean, Shanda will oversee the School of Art and Visual Studies, Department of Arts Administration, School of Music and Department of Theater and Dance.
This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 11:47 AM with the headline "UK taps longtime Ohio State faculty member as dean of College of Fine Arts."