CMU announces next arts and media dean

Richard Rothaus, Central Michigan University's interim provost and executive vice president, has named Jefferson Campbell to lead the university's College of the Arts and Media, effective July 1, 2022.

Campbell succeeds Betty Kirby, who has served as interim dean since the retirement of Janet Hethorn in 2020.

Campbell is a professor of bassoon and associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. There he focused on strategic enrollment management and worked with faculty to develop new practices and strategies for diversifying faculty searches in the college.

Campbell holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Western Kentucky University, a master's degree in bassoon performance and chamber music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and a doctoral degree in bassoon performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Considered an international performer and pedagogue of high demand and reputation, Campbell has performed on stages throughout the United States and the world. 

Leading the college's faculty and staff, across six academic departments and four interdisciplinary programs, Campbell will steward the development and articulation of the vision for the arts and media studies within the college, in alignment with the university's overall vision and mission. As dean, Campbell will collaborate with the other academic college deans, and the senior vice provosts, as well as other administrative leaders, department chairs and program coordinators. Campbell will serve on CMU's Council of Deans, Academic Senate and Academic Planning Council.

In August, a search committee was appointed to conduct a national search for the next dean, led by Ray Christie, senior vice provost for academic administration, and with assistance from Greenwood/Asher & Associates. Students, faculty and staff also were able to provide input during the search through a series of open forums and campus meetings.