Tampa taps Fairfield professor as new arts dean

The University of Tampa (UT) recently announced that David Gudelunas, who is currently serving as professor of communication at Fairfield University, will oversee the university’s arts and communications programs as the new dean of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).

“The value of the arts, humanities and communication in contributing to cultural and information literacy, media competency, critical thinking and the full expression of human potential is increasingly self-apparent, and I think the UT College of Arts and Letters is well positioned to be a leader at this particular cultural moment,” Gudelunas said. “I look forward to getting to know the UT community and working with the greater Tampa Bay community to demonstrate what the value of a quality liberal arts education is.”

Gudelunas founded Fairfields School of Communication, Arts and Media and has been on the faculty there for more than a decade, during which time he has focused on communications and cultural, gender and sexuality studies. At UT, Gudelunas will head up the art, communications, English and writing, languages and linguistics, music, philosophy and religion and speech, theatre and dance departments.

“David will be a prominent public advocate for the value of the arts and humanities, and I anticipate that he will collaborate with faculty and with community partners to enhance the contributions of CAL to our students’ educations and to the cultural life of the Tampa Bay region,” said UT Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Stern.