Jennifer Pignolet
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Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts (JCFA) is moving forward with its search to replace Dean Peter Alexander, who will retire at the end of this academic year.
The JCFA Dean’s Search Committee, chaired by College of Business Dean Chuck Williams, introduced its first of four candidates for the job Monday.
Wade Weast, a trumpet musician on the faculty at the University of South Florida, gave a presentation and answered questions from students, faculty and staff.
A graduate of the State University of New York-Fredonia, a school of about 5,000 students, Weast said working at Butler would be like “going home.”
He presented his view for the college using the metaphors of an island versus a peninsula.
“With the island view, we’re small, we’re pretty and people like to visit us, but we’re isolated,” Weast said. “It’s a dangerous view.
“(With the peninsula view,) we’re small but we’re connected in many ways.”
Weast said he would encourage faculty to do research and attend conferences.
He said he has a soft spot in his heart for staff after doing secretarial work at Columbia University. He worked there while putting himself through graduate school at the Manhattan School of Music.
Weast addressed the importance of the arts for a university and the community.
“Arts play an enormous role in adding a sense of community for both students and the community,” he said. “We need to work on relationships with the local symphonies and museums."
Weast described the arts as the “front door” of the university.
“The arts offer unique opportunities that other departments don’t,” he said.
When asked about his abilities to connect with departments outside of music, Weast said what he lacked in experience with the areas of dance, theater and visual arts, he would make up in humility and willingness to listen.
“I can tell you what I know about dance, and it would take me about 30 seconds,” he said. “But I would say to the dance department, ‘What are your needs?’ I would sure hit the ground running and learn as much as I can.
“I’m attracted to a position where I can learn about theater and dance and art history.”
Weast said he sees himself as a middleman between the faculty and upper administration, but also as someone who would also make time for students.
Fundraising would also take priority in his role as dean, Weast said. He listed his fundraising goals to include money for equipment, scholarships and construction. But before fundraising, he said, there must be “friend-raising.”
Williams described the four finalists, from an original pool of more than 65 applicants, as strong and experienced.
While dates have not been set for the remaining candidates’ visits, Williams said the committee is working to get them to campus in the “shortest time possible.”
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