Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 18, 2005|Volume 33, Number 22

Robert Blocker

Music school dean will leave
to assume SMU post

Dean Robert Blocker is stepping down from the helm of the School of Music to become provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.

Blocker has served as the Lucy and Henry Moses Dean of the School of Music since 1995, and will assume his new position at SMU beginning July 15.

"The past 10 years at Yale have been, for me, the zenith of my career," Blocker said to the School of Music's faculty, staff and students. "The depth of affection and respect that Serena and I have for the School of Music and indeed for Yale, goes with us to this new adventure and will always remain in our hearts."

In an announcement to the Yale community, President Richard C. Levin said: "This is a great loss for Yale, for Robert has been an extraordinary dean of the School of Music for the last decade. He has worked to strengthen virtually every part of the school; applications have risen by nearly 60% during his tenure, and the yield on students accepting an offer of admission is the highest in the school's history. He has made outstanding appointments to the faculty, has been the school's most successful fundraiser in recent memory, and his creation of an International Advisory Board will serve the school long after his departure."

Blocker has been credited with reestablishing Yale's School of Music as one of the world's premier institutions for the professional training of performers and composers. Among his many notable accomplishments is the quadrupling of the school's endowment and an extensive plan for revitalizing facilities.

"Robert has been the conceptual architect for the comprehensive renovation of the facilities, including the exquisite renovation of Sprague Hall, the transformation of Abby and Mitch Leigh Hall, which will reopen in May, and the planning for Hendrie Hall that is well underway," said Levin. "Robert has built community as effectively as he has renovated buildings. The fall convocation, the annual dinner, town meetings and the student tailgate are emblematic of the attention Robert gave to creating a stronger community for those at the School of Music."

As SMU's chief academic officer, Blocker will be responsible for the administration of the university's seven degree-granting schools, with a total full-time faculty of more than 500 and student enrollment of nearly 11,000. He will supervise SMU's libraries housing more than two million volumes, the Office of Enrollment Services, International Programs, Research Administration, Center for Media and Instructional Technology, Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center, SMU Press and SMU-in-Taos. Blocker also will hold faculty rank as a professor of music in the Meadows School of the Arts and adjunct professor of management in the Cox School of Business.

Levin will announce the appointment of an interim dean in the weeks to come and the appointment of a committee to conduct an international search for a new School of Music dean.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Financial burden for lower-income families eliminated

Professor created 'Science Saturdays' series to fuel flame . . .

Holloway named next master of Calhoun College

Campus-wide survey begins on March 21

David Leffell is appointed deputy dean for clinical affairs

Music school dean will leave to assume SMU post

Bloom to be honored with Hans Christian Andersen Award

Experiment demonstrates that monkeys have the ability to reason . . .

Researchers identify gene for age-related macular degeneration

Online auction will benefit Dwight Hall

Passion and ambition take center stage in 'Miss Julie'

School of Drama will present Ibsen's tragedy 'Hedda Gabler'

Internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry will visit the campus . . .

'The Physical Print' traces evolution of photographic process

Noted child psychiatrist will deliver inaugural Albert J. Solnit Lecture

Celebrated poet and renowned novelist are next Schlesinger Visiting Writers

In Memoriam: Jacques Guicharnaud, French theater scholar . . .

Nelson to head playwriting department

Yale editor Nayan Chanda earns Shorenstein Award for Journalism

Kiger will join artistic staff at Yale Rep

Library conference will explore preservation of global collections

Dr. James Comer to discuss future of public education

Bookbags and 'Schooliosis'