The College of Art and Design welcomes two new directors to its school this semester.
Stuart Baron, a Boston University professor, will serve as the new director for the School of Art this fall. Baron hopes to bring more notice and level of excitement to the students and faculty.
“I think LSU is at a place, especially in the School of Art, where it is becoming a great school not only regionally but nationally,” he said. “I first want to figure out what old things are being done in the school and make them more prominent.”
Susan Turner, interim director for the School of Landscape Architecture, headed the search committee for a School of Art director. She said both committees had a national and international scope.
“In art we were looking primarily for someone who would represent their needs to the upper level administration, and who would be decisive and unifying for the school,” Turner said.
Elizabeth Mossop, a Harvard design professor, will be the other new kid in town when she arrives to the University in January as the new director for the School of Landscape Architecture.
Mossop, who will replace Turner, became interested in the job after learning about the opening from friends in the Louisiana area.
“It seems there is an enormous opportunity at the College of Art and Design to really build a new program in landscape architecture,” she said. “It’s got huge possibilities with it being a big state university with reasonable resources.”
Mossop said the school already has terrific exchange programs and field trip opportunities for students, but she hopes to strengthen the design teaching by integrating other aspects of design into the program.
“I want to make a crossover of landscape architecture and urban design, as well as integrate ecology and environmental technology and design,” she said.
Mossop, who continues to run an Australian- based architecture consulting firm, said she also needed a change from the Northeast scenery.
“It’s a terrible, terrible climate,” she said. “I was interested in Louisiana. The people are a lot friendlier and open, which is much more in tune with my Australian sensibility.”
David Cronrath, School of Architecture director and chair of the search committee for landscape architecture, said the committee was looking for someone who had outstanding leadership skills and who could continue the terrific reputations of the school.
“We’re bragged as one of the Top 10 design schools in the country, but we could also make it more successful,” Cronrath said. “We found someone who meets those characteristics. Elizabeth is really going to be able to help the school move forward in its agenda.”
Turner said both of the new directors hired are dynamic, energetic leaders and the future of the School of Design is bright.
“I’m very optimistic that they will bring a fresh outlook to the two schools that already have excellent faculties and outstanding students,” Turner said.