US News ranks Master of Fine Arts Program in Metal/Jewelry as #1 in nation

NEW PALTZ — The Master of Fine Arts Program in Metal/Jewelry at the State University of New York at New Paltz has been ranked #1 in the nation in the recent 2009 U.S. News & World Report list of America’s best graduate schools.

The Metal/Jewelry graduate program ranked first in the nation in the Fine Arts category. In addition, New Paltz’s Master of Fine Arts Program overall was named among the 100 best in America, according to U.S. News.

“Gifted faculty, teachers and artists have made the metals program an absolute gem and a leading intellectual and creative light on our campus," said New Paltz President Steven Poskanzer. "I couldn’t be happier for our metals faculty, alumni and current students."

The program, which is directed by Professor Jamie Bennett and Professor Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, is a two-year course of study designed to give students a broad range of technical opportunities in one of the nation’s most enviable facilities. The 10,000-square-foot metal studio is fully equipped to accommodate most hands-on metalsmithing and jewelry-making practices – from fine work in precious metals to larger scale, formed and welded constructions.

“Within what is a superb MFA program overall, our metalsmiths and jewelers have achieved particular distinction,” said Fine Arts Dean Kurt Daw. “Along with nationally-recognized accomplishments of the faculty members Jamie Bennet and Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, both of whom have received Chancellors Awards for teaching, the program also received boosts to its reputation due to the national prominence of our technician, John Cogswell, and many extremely distinguished alumni from the program. This is a richly deserved honor for a very accomplished program.”

For more detailed information regarding applications, course offerings and other degree requirements, call the Graduate Office at (845) 257-3285 or visit www.newpaltz.edu/metal.

U.S. News bases its rankings on the ratings of academic experts. Deans, program directors and senior faculty are asked to judge the quality of a particular program on a scale of 1-5, ranging from “marginal” to “outstanding.”

For more information about how U.S. News calculates rankings, visit
www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-graduate-schools/2008/03/26/fine-arts-methodology.html.