Greg Watts named Dean of UNT's College of Visual Arts and Design

Monday, June 1, 2015 - 20:06
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DENTON (UNT), Texas – Greg Watts, chair of the art department at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, has been named the new dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas.

"Greg Watts provides the creativity and leadership to continue the excellence of the College of Visual Arts and Design, which is one of the best art schools in the Southwest and the nation," said Finley Graves, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at UNT.

Watts starts his position August 1. He will replace Eric Ligon, who has served as interim dean since August 2014.

Since 1999, Watts served as chair of the art department at Metropolitan State University, where he led the department to accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and completed a comprehensive revision of curriculum, including the creation of bachelor's degrees in studio art and art history/critical theory and a minor in digital media. Watts helped implement the first online and hybrid course offerings and increased art major enrollment and the number of faculty and staff positions.

He also served as executive director for the Center for Visual Art, Metropolitan State's off-campus art center. Watts previously served as an associate professor and coordinator of photography and digital arts areas at Metropolitan State, and has served as president for the Council of Chairs at the university.

"I relish the opportunity to work with the talented students, faculty and staff at UNT, while advancing the College of Visual Arts and Design's stature locally, nationally and globally," Watts said.

His career accomplishments also include a variety of academic positions and creative ventures. At Florida State University, Watts taught in the School of Visual Arts and Dance and served as a program director of the Oglesby Union Arts Center. He was co-director of the Nighthawks Art Gallery in Denver and worked as a film cameraman in Africa. His artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the country, and he is a consultant and legal expert in the fields of photography and photographic evaluation.

The Cambridge, England, native received his Executive M.B.A. from the University of Denver, an M.F.A. in fine art (photography) at the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in fine art (printmaking) from Kingston University in London. He also attended the Management Development Program at Harvard University.

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