The University of Arizona College of Fine Arts is pleased to announce that Dean Andy Schulz, vice president for the arts, will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony.
Schulz, who joined the university in 2018 and became its inaugural vice president for the arts in 2019, recently announced that he will step down from both leadership roles when his current administrative contract ends on June 30, 2025. He will take an administrative leave during the 2025–26 academic year, after which he plans to return to the classroom as a faculty member in art history.
As keynote speaker, Schulz will reflect on the why the arts matter and offer a call to action.
“I am incredibly proud to have played a role in elevating and integrating the arts on campus and in the community,” said Schulz. “It has been a privilege to serve this college, and I look forward to continuing to champion the arts in my next chapter.”
The College of Fine Arts graduation ceremony will take place May 18, 2p, at Centennial Hall.
Making the Arts Central to the Student Experience
During his tenure, Schulz led the creation of Arizona Arts, a division uniting the College’s four academic schools—Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre, Film & Television—with its presenting units: Arizona Arts Live, the Center for Creative Photography, and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. His leadership was instrumental in advancing the university’s goal of making the arts central to the student experience, research, and community engagement.
“Andy was a game changer,” said Ellen McMahon, associate dean for research. “He catalyzed many initiatives which raised the prominence of the arts within the university. By creating the first Associate Dean for Research in the Arts position, Andy opened the door for the meaningful integration of arts research into the R1 ecosystem. This has led to new sources of support and development opportunities for faculty, staff and student research, numerous collaborations with RII and institutes, centers and colleges across campus and significant engagement with dozens of community partners.”
Under his guidance, the College launched several innovative academic programs, including three new online degrees in Design Arts & Practices, Film, Music, and Live and Screened Performance. The College also celebrated record-breaking undergraduate enrollments, major facilities improvements, and new initiatives that advanced opportunities for all students.
“When Andy speaks about Arizona Arts you immediately get the sense of his passion and commitment to arts education and making the arts accessible for all,” said Tilghman Moyer, executive director of development. “The re-imagining of the Arts District is the physical manifestation of his vision for the arts at the U of A and his work will impact generations of students and arts patrons alike.”
An accomplished scholar of Spanish art and visual culture, Schulz holds a Ph.D. in art history from Columbia University. His research explores themes of national identity and the legacy of Islamic culture in Spain—work he plans to resume during his upcoming leave.