Open forums scheduled for College of Arts and Media dean candidates
The next dean of Central Michigan University's College of the Arts and Media has been narrowed down to four finalists. Each candidate is scheduled to visit campus for open forums during the week of Nov. 29.
During the forums, students, faculty and staff can meet with candidates and ask questions. Each are scheduled from 1-1:50 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 29 - Dec. 3. in the Staples Family Concert Hall in the Music Building and 3-3:50 p.m. in Moore Hall 110. Each session can also be attended virtually.
The national search began in August when Provost and Executive Vice President Mary Schutten appointed a search committee chaired by Ray Christie, senior vice provost for academic administration.
CMU hired executive search firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates to help narrow down potential candidates.
The search for Janet Hethorne, the previous dean who was hired when CAM was known as the College of Communications and Fine Arts, cost the university about $60,000.
Here are the details for each open forum and the respective candidate:
Monday, Nov. 29: Michael Thrasher
Thrasher serves as the associate dean for academic affairs and director of graduate studies in the College of Music at Florida State University. He also served as interim dean of the College of Music, from July 2020 to Jan. 2021.
He earned a Bachelor of Music Education at Northwestern State University, a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of North Texas and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance at the University of North Texas.
Tuesday, Nov. 30: Jefferson Campbell
Jefferson Campbell has filled various roles at the University of Minnesota since 2005. He is a professor of bassoon and has served as department head of Music, the interim associate dean of the School of Fine Arts, interim associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and interim associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, a position he has held since July of 2021.
Campbell earned a Bachelor of Music Education at Western Kentucky University, a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Thursday, Dec. 2: Kelly Burke
Kelly Burke currently serves as the vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the graduate school at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, a position she has held for the last five years.
Before that, she served as associate dean in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and as the head of the Department of Music Performance. Burke is also a professor of music at UNCG.
Burke earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance and Music Education at The Eastman School of Music, a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance at the University of Michigan and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution at UNCG.
Friday, Dec. 3: Jeff Ward
Jeff Ward has worked at Kansas State University since 2016 when he filled the role of director for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Ward also served as an associate dean in the College of Fine Arts and Communication at East Carolina University and as an associate director of choral activities.
Ward earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Rollins College, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at East Carolina University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education (Conducting) at Shenandoah Conservatory.
