By Melissa Mitchell
Kathleen F. Conlin, chair and director of the department of theater at
Ohio State University, has been selected to be dean of the UI's College
of Fine and Applied Arts, pending approval of the UI Board of Trustees.
The board will formally consider the appointment at its meeting July 11
in Urbana.
Conlin replaces Kathryn Martin, who resigned from the dean's post in June
1995 to become chancellor of the University of Minnesota at Duluth. R. Alan
Forrester, director of the UI's School of Architecture, has served as interim
dean since that time. Conlin's appointment takes effect Oct. 1.
"I am delighted that we have been able to attract into this deanship
a person of Dr. Conlin's energy, integrity, judgment and articulateness,"
said Larry R. Faulkner, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
"She has a wonderful ability to convey the importance of the arts to
diverse audiences, and she has an excellent reputation for her ability to
lead and to manage in an academic setting."
In addition to her appointment at OSU, Conlin has served as director and
casting director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival since 1990. Prior to
joining the OSU faculty, she was a director and professor in Ohio University's
School of Theater from 1987 to 1992. From 1978 to 1987, she directed and
taught on the theater faculty at the University of Texas at Austin.
"I am honored to accept the deanship of the College of Fine and Applied
Arts," Conlin said. "The distinguished faculty and students of
the college, and the excellent leadership of the university were instrumental
in my decision to accept the position. I look forward to beginning work
in the fall."
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