Interim arts school dean hired back

When the position of dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts was left open a year ago, Professor Barbara Sestak filled the role on an interim basis. Sestak served the position well enough to be offered the job on a full-time basis in the fall.

“I was very happy with her performance during that period of time,” said Roy Koch, provost and vice president for academic affairs

Koch said that rather than searching for someone to fill the position on a national scale, which is a typical approach, he decided to appoint Sestak. Koch said he spoke with the chairs and faculty of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, whom were in favor of the decision, and then appointed her dean.

“I’m really excited about it,” Sestak said. “I’ve been here since the spring of ’82 and seen a lot of growth in the school.”

Sestak said she plans for a reemphasis on the professional school in the curriculum of the Portland State Fine and Performing Arts Department. She said she would like to create a bachelor’s of fine arts in music, a major in film studies and a bachelor’s of music in performance and voice, as well as bring back the dance minor that used to be offered at PSU.

Sestak also said she would like to create a bachelor’s degree in arts, which would serve as a general education degree for students interested in all areas of the arts. She said a degree like this would be especially useful for students who want to teach in the elementary arts.

For the fine art facilities, Sestak said the department is anticipating renovations in Shattuck Hall, which will undergo major maintenance-related construction throughout the next year. She said the department would like to upgrade the art facilities in the building during the maintenance operations. Sestak said that Lincoln Hall has major maintenance in its future and the department would also like to make similar improvements in the building.

“This is a way to modernize the space we have,” Sestak said.

The biggest challenges Sestak said she has had to face, and that she anticipates in the future, are financial issues. Budget cuts in the 2005-2007 biennium caused the loss of three-and-a-half faculty positions within the School of Fine and Performing Arts, she said.

Additionally, the deferment that will fund the renovation of Shattuck Hall is only enough to cover the maintenance of the building, not the additions. She said a similar situation could happen in the next biennium, which may not yield enough money for the Lincoln Hall upgrade. Sestak said she hopes to make up for some of the gaps in the budget through fundraising.

Sestak said she wants to help the faculty in their own academic pursuits by finding them funding for their work through grants.

“Working hand in hand with faculty to achieve what we want to achieve is really important,” Sestak said.

In addition to working in the administration, Sestak hopes to continue teaching in the architecture department.

“It’s wonderful to get back in the classroom and remind yourself what you’re here for,” Sestak said.

Robert Sylvester, the former dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts, resigned in October 2005. He left the position to rejoin the PSU faculty and pursue other scholarly endeavors, according to Koch. Sestak served as interim dean from the time Sylvester stepped down until she was appointed dean during the fall 2006 term.

“I tried to have an open process and let everyone know what I was thinking,” Koch said about selecting Sestak for dean. “Support internally was very strong.”

Sestak received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s from the University of Washington. She is a licensed architect and currently serves on the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners.