Jan. 31, 2012 — Dr. Elizabeth Leckie has been appointed Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs for the College of Fine Arts.  With the creation of this new position, which focuses solely on the student experience, we enthusiastically welcome Dr. Leckie to the College of Fine Arts.  Dr. Leckie is an exciting addition to the College and brings a wealth of experience in student affairs to serve students in the Fine Arts.

Liz, as she prefers to be called, has over 10 years of experience in student services at the University of Utah. Most recently she held the positions of Director of Graduate Student Services in the College of Nursing and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs in the College of Humanities.

“We could not be more happy with Liz and the professional, intellectual experience she brings to the College of Fine Arts,” says Dean Raymond Tymas-Jones.  “Liz is a proven administrator and leader with a wealth of understanding of best practices with regards to student success.  Our students will be incredibly well-served by the creation of this position.”

Throughout Liz’s career, she has worked with students across many disciplines and from diverse backgrounds. When asked about her interest in this position, she wrote, “I have witnessed the importance of arts education in many students’ lives. This importance is obvious to both students who choose to study in one of the disciplines in the College and those who are studying throughout the University.”

In 2009, she completed her Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Utah, where she focused her studies on undergraduate student socialization in higher education, social justice, and intercultural communication. She is a former recipient of the University of Utah Diversity Award and the Philip & Miriam Perlman Award for Excellence in Student Counseling and Advising.

In addition to being involved with many undergraduate campus initiatives, Liz also serves as a member of the University Neighborhood Partners Advisory Board, the Women’s Resource Center Advisory Board, and as a staff representative of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women.

Liz formally started her position January 17, 2012. More at www.FineArts.utah.edu