Steven Tepper

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Steven J. Tepper
Dean Steven Tepper at James Turrell’s Roden Crater, 2019
Born (1967-07-16) July 16, 1967 (age 56)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materPrinceton University (Ph.D.), Harvard University (M.P.P.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
Occupation(s)Writer, Scholar, President-elect
Known forScholar of creativity and education
Spouse
Dana Mossman Tepper
​
(m. 1994)​
ChildrenSally, Sam

Steven Tepper is a cultural sociologist and the Dean and Director of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. He was named as the 21st President of Hamilton College on February 7, 2024.[1]

He was an early architect of the field of cultural policy studies, serving as the deputy director of the Princeton University Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies and then as associate director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University. Tepper served on the steering committee that helped launch the Creative Campus movement [2] and gave it broad visibility in 2004 with his cover story for the Chronicle of Higher Education, “The Creative Campus: Who’s Number 1?”.[3] His views about creativity and education, creative work and cultural policy have been covered widely in higher education and the national press.[4][5][6][7]

Education[edit]

Tepper holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1989), where he served as senior class president. He also holds a masters in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (1996) and a PhD in sociology from Princeton University (2001).

Career[edit]

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chancellor Paul Hardin appointed Tepper in 1990 to serve as the executive director of the University’s Bicentennial Observance (1993-1994);[8] an 8-month celebration of the nation’s first public university to open its doors. The Observance featured more than 120 events across the state of North Carolina, including a kick off event at UNC’s Kenan Stadium featuring a keynote address by President Bill Clinton (October 12, 1993).[9]

While pursuing his PhD at Princeton University, Steven Tepper helped launch the Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, serving as associate and then deputy director from 1998 to 2004. and working directly with Center faculty directors Paul DiMaggio and Stan Katz. The Princeton University Center was one of the first cultural policy centers at a US university[10] and the first embedded in a policy school.

In 2004, Tepper joined former National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Bill Ivey at Vanderbilt University to launch another national policy center focused on arts and culture – The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy. While at Vanderbilt University, Tepper served as associate director of the Curb Center, assistant and associate professor of sociology, and co-chair, with Mel Zeigler, of the Vanderbilt Creative Campus Taskforce. He also served as lead facilitator for Leadership Music in Nashville, TN from 2012-2014, a leadership and professional development program for music executives and artists.[11] Tepper launched the Strategic National Alumni Project (SNAAP) with initial support from the Surdna Foundation, serving as SNAAP’s first research director from 2006 to 2018. SNAAP is the largest survey ever conducted of arts and design graduates, with more than 200,000 survey respondents to date.[12] Tepper's work on creative graduates has challenged the "starving artist" myth and has been covered widely.[13]

In 2014, Tepper joined Arizona State University as Dean and Director of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the nation's largest comprehensive design and arts college at a research university.[14][15] Tepper created a new film school in 2019 and secured permission from legendary actor Sidney Poitier and his family in 2021 to name the school the Sidney Poitier New American Film School.[16] Under Tepper's leadership, the Institute has expanded from Tempe, AZ into 3 additional cities with state-of-the-art facilities in downtown Phoenix (Fusion on First),[17] downtown Mesa (MIX Center),[18] and downtown LA (ASU California Center).[19] The Media and Immersive Experience Center (MIX) opened in August 2022. In the summer of 2023, Tepper led the integration of the historic Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising in downtown L.A. into ASU as the 6th school in the Herberger Institute, now named ASU FIDM.[20]

In 2024, Tepper was named the 21st President of Hamilton College in Clinton, NY.[21] The Hamilton College Board of Trustees unanimously elected Tepper in January 2024, following a nationwide search that included input from faculty, students, and alumni. He will succeed David Wippman who is retiring in June after eight years as president. His term begins in July of 2024.

Academic Work[edit]

Tepper’s research focuses on creativity, higher education, creative work and careers, cultural policy and cultural conflict. He has written and spoken extensively about creativity in higher education and has been featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education,[22][23][24] Inside Higher Education,[25][26] Fast Company,[27] and the Huffington Post.[28] In 2011, he was interviewed by Jeffrey Brown on PBS NewHour to discuss his research on cultural conflict.[29]

He is author of two books: Not Here, Not Now, Not That: Protest over Art and Culture in American Cities (2011, University of Chicago Press), ISBN 9780226792873 and Engaging Art, The Next Great Transformation of America’s Cultural Life. Co-edited with William Ivey (2007, Routledge). ISBN 9780415960427

Honors and recognition[edit]

Tepper was appointed to the American Academy for Arts and Sciences’ National Commission on the Arts (2019-2021) and served on the board of the National Humanities Alliance (2021–2023). He was named Leader of the Year in Public Policy in 2016 by the Arizona Capitol Times.[30] He was awarded the 2019 Full Circle Award for making transformational change for youth.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Hamilton College names 21st President".
  2. ^ The American Assembly. “The Creative Campus: The Training, Sustaining, and Presenting of the Performing Arts in American Higher Education,” edited by Sharon W. Walsch, March 2004, 40 pages. Published by The American Assembly, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 456, New York, NY, 10115, 212- 870-3500, www.americanassembly.org
  3. ^ Tepper, Steven. “The Creative Campus: Who’s Number 1?” Chronicle of Higher Education, October 1, 2004.
  4. ^ "Double Majors Produce Dynamic Thinkers, Study Finds". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  5. ^ "Arts on the line in cultural revolution - Northwest". digitaledition.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  6. ^ "Opinion | Policy Can Help Arts". The New York Times. August 16, 1999 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ "The case for art: Humanity has 'never been better and we have never felt worse,' says sociologist – GeekWire".
  8. ^ Rodes, Robin. “Bicentennial Director Finds Years of Work Rewarding on October 12.” The Daily Tar Heel. November 10, 1993.
  9. ^ Collection: Bicentennial Observance Office of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1903-1995 (bulk 1987-1994). UNC Wilson Library, Collection Number 40135
  10. ^ "Princeton - PWB 060799 -". pr.princeton.edu.
  11. ^ "Tepper named facilitator for Leadership Music's annual program". Vanderbilt University.
  12. ^ "Arts-School Grads: Rich? Don't Count on It. Content? Quite Possibly!". The Chronicle of Higher Education. May 3, 2011.
  13. ^ G rant, D. (2013, Nov 10). “A Fine-Arts Degree May Be a Better Choice Than You Think; For graduates, job prospects and satisfaction are surprisingly high.” Wall Street Journal.
  14. ^ "Breaking the mold: Social scientist, policy scholar helms ASU design and arts school". ASU News. October 1, 2014.
  15. ^ Trimble, Lynn. “Steven J. Tepper, New ASU Herberger Institute Dean, Talks Arts, Policy, and Community.” Phoenix New Times. November 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Vlessing, Etan. “Diversity Trailblazer Sidney Poitier Lends Name to Arizona State University Film School.” Hollywood Reporter. January, 25, 2021.
  17. ^ Forslund, Gretta. “ASU Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Phoenix Dorm” State Press, March 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Brown, Brandon. “New ASU campus in downtown Mesa could be model for others in more Valley cities.” Phoenix Business Journal. August 25, 2022
  19. ^ Leingang, Rachel. “ASU expands to historic building in downtown Los Angeles.” Arizona Republic. August 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Crouch, Dorothy. "ASU-FIDM Integration Blends Innovation With Deep Fashion Roots." California Apparel News. June, 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "Hamilton College Names 21st President". Hamilton College.
  22. ^ "Let's Get Serious About Cultivating Creativity". The Chronicle of Higher Education. September 4, 2011.
  23. ^ Tepper, Steven and Elizabeth Long Lingo. “The Creative Campus: Time for a ‘C’ Change.” Chronicle of Higher Education. Fall 2010.
  24. ^ Tepper, Steven. “Thinking ‘Bigger Than Me’ in the Liberal Arts.” Chronicle of Higher Education. September 15, 2014.
  25. ^ Tepper, Steven and Doug Dempster. “Accountability and The Iron Cage.” Inside Higher Education. July 26, 2011.
  26. ^ Tepper, Steven J. "Higher Education in a World of Singles". Inside Higher Ed.
  27. ^ Tepper, Steven. “Is the MFA the new MBA?” FastCompany. March 2013.
  28. ^ Tepper, Steven. “Uncle Henry Is Wrong. There's A Lot You Can Do With That Degree.” Huffington Post. May 27, 2011.
  29. ^ Interview with Jeffrey Brown, PBS NewsHour. December 9, 2011.
  30. ^ "2016 Leaders of the Year | Arizona Capitol Times". December 15, 2015.
  31. ^ "Steven J. Tepper to be honored at FULL CIRCLE Gala – Nov. 16, 2019". September 19, 2019.
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