Professor Barbara Drucker has been named the inaugural associate dean of Community Engagement and Arts Education in the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
"Barbara will continue to build on her outstanding 31-year career at UCLA as a creative, passionate, and highly effective faculty member, practicing artist, and administrator," wrote Dean Christopher Waterman in an announcement. "This new role will allow Barbara to concentrate her efforts on the important work of promoting and expanding our community engagement and arts education programs. There is no one more qualified to represent the school in this role than Barbara: Her longstanding commitment to the arts provides a substantial foundation from which she will continue to leverage UCLA Arts’ excellence and further expand our collaborative relationships in the community."
Drucker transitions from her position as associate dean of Academic Affairs where, since 2008, she played an active role within and beyond the school, representing the arts on numerous campuswide committees, at arts education and advocacy conferences, and on task forces and committees in California and nationally. She also directs the school's Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE) Program, a post she will continue to hold. Since 2011, Drucker has helped to secure nearly $1.3 million in support for arts education and community engagement programs at the school.
"Barbara has been an advocate for arts education throughout her career and an eloquent spokesperson for the importance of early and life-long exposure to arts education," wrote Waterman. "Barbara transformed the school’s nascent arts education program into an extensive school-wide program. Because of the VAPAE Program, UCLA has become known locally and nationally as an innovative leader in progressive arts education."
