John Telford, a professor of photography at Brigham Young University, has been named chair of the Department of Visual Arts of the College of Fine Arts and Communications.
He replaces Mark Johnson, who is returning to full-time teaching after serving as department chair for six years.
"John possesses an unusual blend of artistic, motivational and managerial talents. He is a superb student mentor, understands faculty and student needs, and has earned respect and acclaim through his exemplary artistic work," said K. Newell Dayley, associate academic vice president and dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications.
Telford is a native Utahan and has been making photographs of the landscape and environment for nearly 25 years.
"His natural attention to detail will help the department grow in unity and purpose," Dayley said.
Telford's photographs have been published extensively, including more than 50 cover photographs, and exhibited in more than 60 national and international shows. His works are included in numerous public and private collections.
"Coyote's Canyon," with photographs by Telford and stories by Terry Tempest Williams, was published in 1989 by Peregrine Smith Books. Two additional books, "Shadows of Time, The Geology of Bryce Canyon National Park" and "Lake Powell, A Different Light," were released in the fall of 1994. "Utah: A Portrait" with text by William B. Smart, a celebration of Utah's unique and diverse beauty, was published in conjunction with the statehood centennial celebration in 1996.
Since the book "Nauvoo" was originally published by Deseret Book in 1997, a project co-authored by Susan Easton Black and Kim C. Averett, he has completed two additional books on Nauvoo: "Nauvoo: The City Beautiful" and "The Nauvoo Temple: Jewel of the Mississippi."
He collaborated with Black on "In the Footsteps of Jesus: Images of the Holy Lands," published by Covenant Communications in 1999, and "Salt Lake 2002: An Official Book of the Olympics," released by Shadow Mountain in 2001.
Telford, who received his master of fine arts degree from the University of Utah, was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award from BYU.
Writer: Elizabeth B. Jensen
