Paul Kassel named dean of NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts

Paul Kassel, professor of theatre arts at SUNY New Paltz, will become dean of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Visual and Performing Arts, effective July 1.

Members of the NIU Board of Trustees endorsed his appointment April 14 following a national search.

NIU Executive Vice President and Provost Lisa Freeman said the university is “fortunate to have attracted a dean with his creativity and commitment to community engagement.”

“Professor Kassel is a talented actor, an accomplished teacher and scholar and a proven administrator with significant experience supervising undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as public visual and performing arts events and community arts programs,” Freeman said.

A member of the SUNY New Paltz faculty since 2004, Kassel served as interim dean of the School of Fine & Performing Arts from 2013 to 2015. He served as associate dean from 2011 to 2013 and was associate chair of the Department of Theatre Arts from 2010 to 2011.

During his distinguished teaching career at New Paltz, Kassel directed and performed in productions, coached student actors, supervised directing projects and aided in recruiting students. He also played a key role in the development of the Digital Design & Fabrication Lab, an interdisciplinary facility combining art and design perspectives with computer science and engineering tools, in collaboration with the School of Science & Engineering.

Kassel also is familiar with Illinois, having taught at Bradley University in Peoria from 1983 to 1998.

“What I see at NIU is the possibility of helping an already strong college thrive,” Kassel said. “I hope to promote a creative environment that encourages risk, allows talent and intelligence to unfold and grow and offers a means to enter the world just ahead of an impending future.”

Kassel holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre and communications from Miami University of Ohio, and a Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University’s Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.