Kit Spicer named CFPA dean at WWU

Christopher “Kit” Spicer has been hired as dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at Western Washington University, Provost Brent Carbajal announced today.

“I'm very pleased that Dr. Spicer has accepted our offer to become dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts. He brings significant administrative skills and experience to the College, and his commitment to Western's mission is clear. I see an exciting future for CFPA under his leadership, and his dedication to shared governance promises a very collaborative success for faculty, staff, and students,” Carbajal said.

Spicer has been interim CFPA dean since Aug. 1, 2013, and was hired as permanent dean following a national search. He succeeded Dan Guyette, who resigned as CFPA dean to become dean of the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as interim dean. Western is a gem among the universities and colleges of the state of Washington and I look forward to continuing to work with the wonderfully creative, passionate and committed faculty, staff and students of the CFPA. I believe that together we will create a special place for the arts and design at Western and in the community,” Spicer said.

Spicer has a doctorate in Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. From 2003 to 2011, he was dean of the College of Fine Arts & Communications at Towson University, in Towson, Md.

From 1995 to 2003 he was dean of the School of the Arts at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. At Pacific Lutheran University, he also served as associate professor, professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Theatre. In 1999 he was a Fulbright Scholar at European University in Lisbon, Portugal.

Spicer has been published extensively in scholarly publications and has been actively involved in numerous civic, professional and community organizations. 

WWU's College of Fine and Performing Arts seeks to nurture a comprehensive understanding of Art, Design, Dance, Music and Theatre in order to create thinking artists and artistic thinkers who will shape culture in the 21st century. In addition to the departments of Art. Design, Music and Theatre and Dance, the college includes the Western Gallery, Outdoor Sculpture Collection and Sanford-Hill Piano Series.