Dean's Messages Archive

Every year, during the week just before the fall semester starts, we gather faculty and staff to introduce new faces, share key information, and discuss plans and priorities for the coming year. As part of my remarks this year, I told the story of Henry “Box” Brown, a 19^th-century Virginia slave who called on his creative powers—and courage—to escape to freedom in the mid-1800s. With the assistance of a few collaborators, Brown confronted the realities of his existence and took action. Rather than following the common adage of “thinking outside the box,” Brown took the unconventional route of using a box to mail himself from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have long admired Henry “Box” Brown for his courageousness in desperate times.

I shared this story because creativity and courage are integral to our roles as artists, designers, performers, and educators. As alumni and friends of the college, you undoubtedly call on your own creativity and courage daily, no matter where your careers have taken you. For our students—some of whom are stepping onto the mainstage for the first time, pulling their first all-nighter in studio, or performing for the first time in front of a Beaver Stadium crowd—courage and creativity are essential. It’s who we are. It’s what we do. We are creatives.

What DO we do? Now that we appear to be returning to a schedule of activities that more closely resembles pre-pandemic times, we do so much. During the first week of the semester alone, we celebrated the opening of the School of Visual Arts’ alumni show (open through September 16 in Zoller Gallery) and the closing of the Palmer Museum of Art’s SoVA faculty show, hosted the annual Corbelletti Design Charette and lecture, and had several recitals by School of Music faculty and students. Of course, we also greeted an enthusiastic class of first-year students during our annual welcome event—complete with Berkey Creamery ice cream—and reconnected with returning students.

Anyone who steps foot on campus at this time of year can feel the energy, the buzz, and the excitement. I am excited to see our performance venues, galleries, and lecture spaces busy again with students and patrons. I am also excited about the opportunities to visit more of our classes in person. I am also eager to see more of YOU—our alumni and friends—at special events.

If you are visiting campus, be sure to check out our college calendar at arts.psu.edu/events, as well as the calendars for the Center for the Performing Arts, Palmer Museum of Art, and Penn State Centre Stage. I guarantee there will be many events for you to consider! Thanks, as always, for your support, and I look forward to seeing you on campus or at an event soon.