College of Santa Fe Names John S. Gordon President

SANTA FE, N.M., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The College of Santa Fe (CSF) has named John S. Gordon as its president, effective June 1, 2010. Gordon, a nationally acclaimed sculptor and arts educator, previously served five years as the first provost at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California.  

Gordon has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. He formerly served as Director of the School of Art, Design, and Art History at San Diego State University, and was a faculty member and senior administrator at Pratt Institution in New York City. He also has held senior academic positions at the University of Southern California, California College of the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

"John is both widely known and highly respected as a strong and consistent advocate for the arts and for arts education," said Paula Singer, chairman of the CSF board of directors. "John is truly uniquely positioned to serve as the president of CSF. He not only has a remarkable background as an academic leader and as a sculptor, but he also has strong ties to the Santa Fe community. In addition to having a home in Santa Fe, John served as academic dean for the Institute of American Indian Arts when it was located on the CSF campus. He currently is a member of the board for the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Santa Fe, and since January he has served pro bono as the CCA's Interim Executive Director. It is a privilege to have him take the helm at CSF."

Gordon's works have been shown in museums and galleries across the U.S., including the L.A. Louver Gallery of Venice, California; Artists Space, New York City; and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He is a recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He earned his B.A. in studio art from Antioch College and an M.F.A. in sculpture from the Claremont Graduate University.  

Larry Hinz, current interim president, will continue to serve the college as a member of the CSF board and as Laureate's senior liaison.

About College of Santa Fe

The College of Santa Fe is a 151-year old college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Programs at the college combine practical experience with core theory, empowering students to develop a thorough understanding of their professional aspirations in Creative Writing, Theater, Art, Graphic Design, Moving Image Arts (film making), Photography, Business and Education. This approach, a key part of the college's interdisciplinary curriculum, puts students on the path to becoming well-rounded, creative problem-solving professionals. The location of the college, in the city of Santa Fe, allows students to pursue their education in an environment where art is central to the community. The university's Web site can be found at www.csf.edu.

SOURCE The College of Santa Fe