Ball State Dean to Retire
Robert Kvam
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBall State University has announced Robert Kvam, dean of the College of Fine Arts, will step down December 30 and retire in June 2019. He joined Ball State in 1997 as director of the School of Music and became dean in 2000. Under Kvam’s leadership, the College of Fine Arts has seen extraordinary growth in students, faculty, facilities, and programs. The college now enjoys three tremendously successful units: art, music, and theatre and dance.
Within the School of Music, a state-of-the-art performance facility opened in 2004, thanks to Dean Kvam’s strong leadership and advocacy. This facility includes a music engineering technology and recording area that rivals most professional recording studios.
Kvam received the university’s Outstanding Administrator Award last fall. As a practicing musician, he has been a regular artistic example to colleagues. Kvam was music director and orchestra conductor for Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma! and The Drowsy Chaperone, all with the Department of Theatre and Dance. Additionally he conducted Muncie’s Masterworks Chorale from 1997-2007, and he has been a National Association of Schools of Music evaluator since 1996.
Kvam earned his BA in music education from University of Northern Iowa, his MM in conducting from University of Wisconsin, and his DMA in choral conducting from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Before Ball State, he taught at Whitman College and Illinois Wesleyan University.