Kowalchuk named associate dean for School of the Arts

New school to be part of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

An academic leader who has dedicated her career to preparing art educators and teaching others how the arts contribute to the quality of life and society will take on a pioneering administrative role in the new School of the Arts, which will be housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Joseph E. Steinmetz, dean of the College, announced Elizabeth Kowalchuk will assume the post of associate dean for the School of the Arts on July 1. Kowalchuk, associate professor in the visual art education program, has spent nearly three decades teaching art and training art educators. Her research involves the intersection of community art and art education.

“Liz will enter the position with the administrative experience, campus knowledge and enthusiasm that is needed to launch the new School of the Arts,” Steinmetz said. “Her understanding of the strong ties between the arts and humanities will increase opportunities for interconnectedness and synergies involving KU faculty and students. I look forward to working with Liz in developing the new school and bringing more opportunities for participation in the arts to more students while at the same time providing excellent professional training and experiences for our School of the Arts students.”

Kowalchuk said she is excited about the new configuration of arts in the College and the opportunities it represents for expanding access and awareness of dance, film, theatre and visual arts.

"The arts represent unique ways of knowing, seeing and responding to the world,” she said. “Within the school, the prospects are bright for growth and change. I'm honored to be selected as the first associate dean for the School of the Arts, and I look forward to working with colleagues to support research and teaching in the arts."

Kowalchuk became an associate professor in 2001. Her administrative portfolio includes serving as associate dean in the School of Fine Arts and acting chair/associate chair of the Department of Design. Before coming to KU in 1994, Kowalchuk was an assistant professor at Buffalo State College and an art teacher in the Palm Beach County Public Schools in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Kowalchuk has served as Lawrence Arts Commissioner and on the board of the Kansas Art Education Association. She is active in campus affairs, serving on the Public Art on Campus Committee and the Senate Executive Committee. This year, Kowalchuk was president-elect of the University Senate.

A reorganization of KU's fine arts programs will transform the School of Fine Arts into the School of Music. The Department of Design will join the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. The Department of Visual Art, which will include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and expanded media, and a new Department of Dance will become part of the new School of the Arts housed within the College. A few programs currently within the Department of Design will be added to the Department of Visual Art: ceramics, metalsmithing and jewelry, scenography, textile design, theatre design and visual arts education. The Department of Theater and Film, already in the College, will join this school as separate departments: the Department of Theatre and the Department of Film and Media Studies. The new structure, which will use existing resources, will take effect July 1.