Jeff Beekman will take over as director of the University of Arizona School of Art on July 1, bringing nationally recognized leadership and “energy” as the school nears its centennial.
Coming from Florida State University, Beekman has chaired the Department of Art in Tallahassee since 2023 and held other leadership roles since 2013, including associate chair and director of Foundations and BA programs. Previously, he taught at the University of Oklahoma, Georgia Southern University and the University of New Mexico-Gallup.
“I am truly delighted to welcome Jeff to the University of Arizona School of Art. Jeff leads with care, curiosity, and a deep respect for artists and educators, and I know he will be a wonderful steward of this community,” said Hasan Elahi, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Arizona Arts.
“His energy, generosity, and collaborative spirit make this an exciting moment for the School of Art,” said Elahi, who named Beekman as the next director on March 24.
Awards and accolades
As a community steward, Beekman received an Emerging Arts Administrators Fellowship by the National Council of Arts Administrators in 2023, in addition to being named a Leadership Award finalist at FSU for “those who have made a significant impact on the Tallahassee community.”
He received his BFA from the University of Florida in 2000 and his MFA from the University of New Mexico in 2005.
As an artist, Beekman has focused his work “on our relationship with the landscapes we occupy,” “on our relationship with the landscapes we occupy,” including lens-based projects in recent years.
He has exhibited broadly across the U.S. and internationally at venues in New Zealand, Australia, China, South Korea, Hungary, England, Ecuador, Italy and Vietnam.
“While I am proud of my time at FSU and all that we have accomplished together, I have a deep love for the American West,” Beekman said. “Joining a school the caliber of the University of Arizona and working with a faculty as dynamic and well-respected as those in the School of Art is truly exciting.”
This excerpt published with permission. Please read the complete announcement by the School of Art.