Kristin Sosnowsky was named interim dean of the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts on July 19, and her hope is to be able to integrate the college with a number of other programs within the University.
After the former dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts vacated his role, Sosnowsky was chosen to lead the college until a permanent replacement is eventually found.
Sosnowsky was an associate professor of arts administration, chair of the LSU Department of Theatre, senior associate dean for finance and operations and managing director of Swine Palace, the professional company affiliated with the University’s theatre department.
She will begin her duties Aug. 10, and will remain in that role until the University names someone to fill the position for the long term.
“Obviously, I want to continue to promote the artistic and scholarly work of both the faculty and the students,” Sosnowsky said. “[This includes] supporting the initiatives that faculty members have and supporting the work of students.”
Sosnowsky received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama in 1997, and she has been involved with the University for 12 years.
She said there will be a number of ways for students to get involved with both the College of Music and Dramatic Arts as well as the Department of Theatre.
“I think what students will find is there are a wide array of events that are going on within the college,” she said. “Everything from classical and contemporary plays to ensembles, symphonies and orchestras. We have a very large opera program, and there are four operas that will take place over the course of the next year.”
Wind ensemble, bass ensemble and a laptop orchestra are also groups with which students can get involved in the college.
As interim dean, Sosnowsky will also be working on a number of initiatives and crossovers with other colleges. Some of these initiatives involve the College of Engineering, which will combine students in the College of Dramatic Arts with those in the College of Engineering.
The Department of Theatre is also partnering with the College of Biological Sciences to bring science and art together.
Sosnowsky said she is looking forward to the work the college will be doing over the course of the next year.
“We’ll be putting on excellent artistic productions and quality arts programming,” she said. “The Tiger Marching Band will be going to Ireland to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. I think what you’ll see is pretty consistent productivity from our faculty and staff and exciting programs for the whole University community as well as the Baton Rouge community.”