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Jory Hancock has built UA dance into one of the premier programs in the nation.

By University Communications
May 5, 2009

Jory Hancock, director of the School of Dance at The University of Arizona, has been appointed interim dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Hancock, who also holds the Stevie Eller Endowed Chair, will begin his post as interim dean on July 1, at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

"I've worked with fine arts faculty, as well as faculty and deans in other colleges, for 22 years in numerous ways," said Hancock, who will succeed the current dean, Maurice J. Sevigny.

"I've enjoyed as well the working relationships I've built with the staff who support the schools, the college, and the development office," Hancock said. "It's a terrific team."

The college – comprised of the schools of dance, art, media arts, music and theatre art, as well as the Peter Treistman Fine Arts Center for New Media – recently joined the Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science under the UA's Transformation Plan.

That college includes the colleges of Science, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. As part of the partnership, each college will function in unison under the direction of Joaquin Ruiz, the executive dean, but each college will maintain its own dean.

UA Provost Meredith Hay expressed appreciation for Sevigny's many years of service to the University and also said she is confident that Hancock will help to further promote the college's already strong programs.

"At a time when the University is undergoing such dramatic transformations and working to integrate the Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science, Jory Hancock is the perfect person to lead the College of Fine Arts in this newly configured team," Hay said.

Hay also noted that the UA will conduct an internal search to fill the deanship.

In the interim, Hancock said he would continue to preserve the prominence of the college programs while also figuring out ways to save the college additional funds by creating efficiencies.

"We will be working in the most efficient way possible," said Hancock, who will continue serving as the dance school's director during the interim position.

Hancock, who has been a member of the UA faculty since 1987, said the focus within the college will continue to be on the "core operation," which involves teaching, research and outreach.

Hancock, who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana University, spent his early career as an apprentice with the American Ballet Theater in New York City, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet.

When he arrived at the UA, Hancock joined what was then the Committee on Dance. Under his leadership, it has grown to school status. Also under Hancock's direction, the school opened its Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in 2003. The $9 million grant-funded center has since earned numerous architectural awards.

Outside of his administrative duties with his school, Hancock also served as chair of the faculty during 2001 through 2005 after having served as vice chair for a one-year term in 2000.

In his new position, Hancock said he will also focus on collaboration, particularly between the college's schools.

"I'm excited about the position," Hancock said.

"As school directors we have a great relationship already. Dean Sevigny, in his leadership style, has encouraged that," he said. "Our job together will be to come up with the very best pathway for the College of Fine Arts to continue its integral role on the University of Arizona campus."