In Conversation with the Dean

March 1, 2018
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Harvey Young begins his leadership at CFA.

Spark Volume 3, Issue 3| by Emily White

Harvey YoungHarvey Young the new Dean of the College of Fine Arts, has eagerly jumped into his role leading the dynamic CFA community.

Dean Young comes to CFA from Northwestern University, where he was Professor and Chair of Theatre and held appointments in African American Studies, Performance Studies, and Radio/Television/Film. He is an internationally recognized theater historian and arts advocate and has published seven books. His research on the performance and experience of race has been featured in academic journals, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Throughout his career, Young has explored the ways people talk to one another about race and gender and is currently working on a book focused on the performance of race.

The Spark team recently chatted with Young to discuss his new role, Boston, and his love of the arts.

You are a well-respected historian, critic, writer, and arts advocate. What else should the CFA community know about you?
HY I am a good listener. I like to meet people, hear their stories, and learn how I can be a better ally. I look forward to sitting down and getting to know as many members of our amazing community as possible.

What excites you about the role of Dean of BU College of Fine Arts?
HY Although CFA is comprised of three schools — music, theatre, and visual arts — it is a single, dynamic, brilliantly creative and highly innovative community. I have the opportunity to work with students, staff, and faculty who, like me, understand that the arts are an essential and a defining part of our everyday life.

Is there one essential ingredient you hope CFA students graduate with, and if so, what is that ingredient?
HY I hope that CFA students graduate with a stronger passion for the arts than when they entered. It is my hope that students will appreciate how the rigor of their artistic training, the combination of research and practice, the merger of tradition and innovation, and the commitment to collaboration within a community committed to diversity and inclusion has prepared them for success on whichever career paths they choose to travel.

How are you liking Boston?
HY I love Boston! I have a real fondness for the city, duck boats, and even the odd street layout. Many of my closest friends, including my wife, were raised in this city.

How did you first discover your passion for the arts, specifically the performing arts? And how has it evolved in your study, writing, and teaching?
HY As a kid, I went to church rather than the symphony, the cinema rather than the theatre, and science museums rather than art museums and, even in those spaces, the arts were everywhere. In high school, I joined the drama club and also developed an ongoing passion for photography. It was in college that I decided that I wanted to spend my life working alongside artists. Between college and graduate school, I studied film, theatre, and art history for eleven years. In my writing and teaching, I aim to help people to see and understand the many types of performances that surround them.

You are a strong advocate for the arts. Why do you think it is important to foster young artists – musicians, writers, builders, painters, performers, directors, teachers, storytellers – to explore their craft and push their limits?
HY The arts give us a glimpse of life from another perspective. They capture the mood and feel of a moment and, in a way, exist as a first draft of history. Engagement with the arts can improve one’s sense of well-being and physical health. Art has inspired political and social revolutions. I am committed to helping aspiring and emerging artists realize their potential because their innovations are so important.

You’re building on a 60+ year history at BU College of Fine Arts; can you give us an idea of what you foresee as the future of CFA?
HY I am impressed and inspired by the vision of President Brown and Provost Morrison. I agree with them that every Boston University student, regardless of major, should have a meaningful experience with the arts. CFA will partner with units across campus on a host of initiatives. Within CFA, I will work closely with the staff and faculty to make sure that we’re preparing our students for the 21st century. The arts need to reflect the diversity of our society. You will see that commitment to diversity and inclusion in CFA productions and exhibitions as well as expanded course offerings and guest artist events.

Read his first message to the CFA community and follow Harvey on Twitter @HarveyYoungBU!

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