Dear students, faculty, and staff,

I am delighted to share with you the news that Lucinda Bliss has accepted CU Denver’s offer to be the College of Arts & Media’s next dean, effective July 1, 2024. She will play a key role in championing CAM’s vision in the coming years building on the outstanding talents and efforts of its faculty, staff, and students—to grow the college’s impact on the artistic and geographic communities we serve.

Lucinda will bring to CU Denver an outstanding track record of academic and artistic accomplishment, and an authentic and collaborative approach to leadership. In 2019 she began her role as dean of graduate studies at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and in 2021 was promoted to associate provost and dean of graduate and professional and continuing education. Before that, she had taught at colleges and universities throughout New England for over 20 years. She is an artist who considers her experience as a practitioner to be a bedrock to her teaching and leadership.

Beyond Lucinda’s outstanding qualifications, I was struck during her November visit by her enthusiasm for CAM’s distinct environment and people, and her experience as a connector and consensus-builder. “My role as a leader in higher education is rooted in an ability to build collaborative communities around a set of shared goals,” she told us in her application. “Authentic presence and integrity are essential attributes for building a collaborative community of diverse  faculty and staff with shared vision.”

CAM has grown its influence throughout and beyond Denver due to the talents and efforts of educators, practitioners, and scholars across the college—as attested to by high industry regard and rankings for numerous CAM programs. The college is on a strong positive trajectory that will be enhanced by steady long-term leadership. I am confident that under Lucinda’s direction, this college can achieve new heights of creativity, education, outreach,
and impact.

We have been fortunate these past 18 months to have the talented and compassionate leadership of co-interim deans Joann Brennan and Nathan Thompson, who will continue as interim deans through the end of June 2024 before resuming their roles as esteemed members of our faculty. I am so grateful for their commitment to CAM and its community. I also am tremendously appreciative of the efforts of all those who have assisted with the search in a leadership, committee membership, advisory, or other support capacity.

Most of all, I am thankful for the patience and guidance of the entire CAM community in navigating the transition between long-term deans, and in continuing resolutely to pursue the college’s vision.