October 15, 2009

Ask any designer and they'll tell you that products need constant re-invention to keep up with changes in technology and consumers' wants and needs. And a college is pretty much the same. We're pleased to now announce the details of a wide-ranging Westphal College reorganization. The large Department of Performing Arts will soon be split into two departments. One will be called The Department of Entertainment Enterprise, although we are still considering other names. This new department will consist of our programs in Arts Administration, Entertainment & Arts Management and Music Industry. The Department of Performing Arts will consist of our programs in Dance, Music and Theater.

Dr. Stephen Powell, currently the College's Academic Associate Dean and Professor of Music, will head Performing Arts and Cecelia Fitzgibbon will head Entertainment Enterprise. Media Arts Department Head Sandy Stewart will become the College's Academic Associate Dean, and Art & Art History Professor Dr. David Raizman will become the Media Arts Department Head.

There are also changes within our Digital Media Program. Starting this winter, Chris Redmann will become the Program Director and Paul Diefenbach will become the Associate Program Director, overseeing our Digital Media graduate program.

The College wishes to thank outgoing Digital Media Program Director Glen Muschio for all that he has done to build our outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs in Gaming, Animation and Interactivity. We're also grateful that we have such hard-working, experienced and passionate leaders as Sandy Stewart, Dr. David Raizman, Cecelia Fitzgibbon, Dr. Stephen Powell and Chris Redmann to head up our departments and programs as we continually strive to improve all that we do.