Laurence Kaptain is no stranger to treading new ground.
As Dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, he oversaw the beginning of new programs that linked the Department of Theater with the College of Science, among others.
And now he’s been tasked with making even more unlikely connections across the University.
Kaptain took up the position of Director of Creative Initiatives with Office of Research and Economic the Development this June, his previous post being filled by Interim Dean Kristin Sosnowsky.
He said the position was created to help promote the use of creative thinking throughout the University and to help colleges within the University work together to create interdisciplinary programs and curricula.
Kaptain said his job is difficult because people in disparate fields like engineering and the arts tend to think differently and getting people in the same room can be a challenge.
“Some people say creativity is soft, or the arts are soft,” Kaptain said. “They think creativity is just for arts schools but that’s not true.”
The benefits of interdisciplinary cooperation far exceed the difficulties, he said.
Kaptain said arts colleges rarely receive large federal grants like those that science schools receive for research. By working together, he said, colleges can offer a more rounded education and enjoy steady funding.
University Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell said he has full confidence in Kaptain’s ability to bring different departments together creatively.
“One of Larry’s strengths is his ability to think out of the box, which allows him to see potential connections for creative collaboration,” Bell said. “Over the past four years he has helped form and shape programs, projects and alliances between CMDA and the Colleges of Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences, Human Sciences & Education, Science, Business, Mass Communication and Art & Design.”
After taking the job in June, Kaptain says he is still working on meeting with the deans of colleges and forming a taskforce of employees from ORED. Kaptain gave a presentation to about 15 ORED staff members Thursday,
introducinginterdisciplinary initiatives, he began as Dean of Music and Dramatic Arts and going over potential new programs.
The taskforce will mostly be in charge of coming up with ideas, he said.
“When I get the taskforce together, we’re first going to get a definition of creativity that works for the University,” Kaptain said. “Then we’ll get ready to compile the information and let the people who are higher up use that.”
Kaptain said though his job is still in the early stages, the reception he has received from across the University has given him confidence.
“We’re still getting rolling, but I’ve received some very nice emails from top-notch professors, which was really gratifying,” Kaptain said. “In the end, I think we’re going to create some more opportunities for students, and hopefully give them a wider breadth
of knowledge.”
New administrative position to promote creativity at LSU
September 5, 2013