2008 Woodie Awards
Miami selects new dean for School of Fine Arts
Kristin Rudibaugh
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Campus
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Currently, Lentini is the dean of the School of Art, Media and Music at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). He will assume his new position at Miami starting July 1.
This appointment is the fourth dean appointment Miami has seen in three years, during which the university has also selected a new president and provost.
Lentini, a composer and renowned classical guitarist, specializes in computer-based technology in music and the arts. According to the Office of Art, Media, and Music at TCNJ, he is in his fourth year as dean, after serving as associate chair for the department of music at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich.
"James Lentini is brimming with ideas on how to move the division forward and place it on the cusp of developments within the university and the country," said dele jegede, professor and chair of the department of art. "He is a scholar, astute professional, manager and visionary."
Robert Benson has been acting as Miami's interim dean for the SFA since June 2006. He assumed the position after former dean, José Bowen, left to become the dean of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern
Methodist University.
A search committee for a new dean was set up by Provost Jeffrey Herbst. Lentini was chosen because of his qualifications, experience, and the insights that he brings to the field, jegede said.
After assuming his new position as dean, Lentini said he plans to incorporate more usage of technology and multimedia into the curriculum. As a musician, his primary interests have been music technology.
Lentini said he hopes to bring Miami more on the forefront of university programs with more of a technological emphasis. He will consult with existing faculty to finalize an official plan to implement this.
"We need to blend traditional disciplines with the use of technology," Lentini said.
While working with existing faculty, Lentini said he wants to make sure his goals meet the interest of the departments.
"I hope that (the new dean) will build upon our strength as a division, strengthen the creative, performative, and intellectual environment of the School of Fine Arts," jegede said.
Lentini also said that fund raising is also an important goal. According to TCNJ office, his experience with fund-raising efforts involved raising endowments and gifts of more than $1 million and approval of a $30 million project for a new building to house the art department and multimedia areas at TCNJ. He will use his experience in fund raising at his current position to implement similar strategies at Miami.
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