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Following a national search, The University of the Arts has named Michael Nash, Ph.D., its new provost. Nash had served as dean and chief academic officer of the Boston Conservatory since 1999. He began in his new position on September 15, 2008.
The provost is the chief academic officer of The University of the Arts and its second-ranking leader. Reporting to the president, the provost is the president’s principal partner in leading the effort to define and develop the university’s objectives and institutional plan.
“Michael is a talented and experienced academic leader, and a gifted theater artist,” said Sean T. Buffington, president of The University of the Arts. “I am thrilled that he will be joining us in this critical role at such an exciting time in the institution’s history.”
“I have been aware of the unique nature of The University of the Arts for many years,” Nash said. “In particular, I know and admire its strong history in the visual arts and design, and its achievements over the past 15 to 20 years in my own field of theater, as well as in dance and music. I am attracted to the university because of its wide academic and artistic terrain, and the wonderful opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration and discovery.”
Nash earned doctoral and master’s degrees with honors in theater and drama from the University of Kansas, and graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in theater and English literature. Prior to joining the Boston Conservatory, Nash served as chair of the Performing Arts department at Boston’s Emerson College for nearly 10 years (1990-1999). Nash has also taught theater at Kent State University, Toneelacademie (Maastricht, The Netherlands), Rutgers University and Bates College.
He has served as producing artistic director of the Porthouse Theater Company (Kent, Ohio) and Central Casting Theater Company (Ithaca, N.Y.). Nash has directed the work of Clifford Odets, Moliere, Joe Orton, Henrik Ibsen, Noel Coward and Friedrich Durrenmatt for such diverse companies as People’s Light and Theater (Malvern, Pa.), Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, Pa.), Spectrum Theater Company (New York) and Théâtre du Nouveau Gymase (Liége, Belgium).
The University of the Arts is the nation’s first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. Its 2,300 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. The institution’s roots as a leader in educating creative individuals date back to 1868.
For more information go to: http://www.uarts.edu