SUNY New Paltz appoints new dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts

NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz has appointed Dr. Kurt Daw as Dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts. Daw comes to New Paltz with a wealth of academic administrative experience, having previously served as the Chair of the Department of Theater at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Ga., a program he founded in 1996.

Currently, Daw is the president of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), a 1,800-member organization of individuals and institutions that provides vision and leadership for the profession and promotes excellence in theatre education.

In 2002, Daw was chosen as one of 35 fellows in a nationally competitive selection process to serve for one year as a fellow of American Council on Education (ACE). In the fall semester he served in the office of President Betty Siegel of Kennesaw State University (Ga.), and the spring semester with President Scott Colley of Berry College (Ga.).

“I am delighted to be coming to such a distinguished institution,” said Daw about his appointment at SUNY New Paltz. “The historic significance of the arts in the area, and the vibrancy of the current arts scene in the Hudson Valley, afford unparalleled opportunity to build a School of Fine and Performing Arts of national distinction. The invitation to join this vibrant faculty is an honor. I’m looking forward to working with the existing superb programs and to join with the arts departments on exciting new initiatives.”

Steven G. Poskanzer, president of SUNY New Paltz, said that this is a particularly important deanship for the college. “Our Fine and Performing Arts programs are an important part of the college’s intellectual heritage,” he said, “and a critical component of our growing stature. I am, therefore, particularly pleased that we have Kurt Daw to fill this post. His energy, intellect, taste and ability to help raise the profile of the college will be critical aspects in the years to come.”

Daw received his Master’s of Fine Arts in Directing from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from The Union Institute Graduate School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Prior to Daw’s appointment, Professor Ann Lovett had served as the interim dean of the School of Fine & Performing Arts for the 2002-03 academic year, a position she previously held for seven months in 2000.

Note to editors: A photograph of Kurt Daw may be downloaded from the SUNY New Paltz Web site at www.newpaltz.edu/news/images/daw.html.