Dr. Robin Bargar is named new COTA dean
Dr. Robin Bargar was named the new dean of the College of the Arts, which includes eight departments. He will start July 20.
Bargar comes to the Beach from the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, where he served as university director of digital and creative industry collaboration, as well as a professor in the School of Arts media with a joint appointment in computing services.
During his time at the University of Salford, he successfully established key partnerships with industry partners, commercial ventures, civic partners and government agencies, and created new course offerings.
鈥淲e are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Bargar join us as dean of the College of the Arts,鈥 said President Jane Close Conoley. 鈥淗is list of accomplishments is varied, impressive and makes him well-suited to lead members of such a creative community. His experience in areas integrating technology and the arts further boosts our efforts to remain at the forefront of teaching and learning. I look forward to working with dean-select Bargar, watching how he and his team strengthen COTA鈥檚 reputation, and see how they position it for even greater recognition and success.鈥
Bargar鈥檚 background is in music composition, where he received professional and academic recognition for his work 鈥 including an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film in 1996. His proven leadership skills and strategic thinking, coupled with his understanding of technical and creative artistry as an accomplished musician, made him the best person to lead COTA.
Before working at the University of Salford, Bargar was the dean of the School of Media Arts and a professor of Interactive Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago. He also worked at City University of New York as the dean of the School of Technology and Design and as a professor of Entertainment Technology.
