Dean Stephen Jones of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University recently announced the appointment of two new associate deans to replace Rory Scanlon, who was named an associate dean of Undergraduate Education and director of the Honors Program last February.
Randall Boothe, an associate professor in the School of Music, and Garold C. Barton Jr., a visual arts professor, were the two faculty members appointed. Ed Adams will continue as associate dean over faculty in the college.
“I believe that having three associate deans will allow us to give greater focus and directed energy to the many areas of responsibility within the college,” Barton said.
Barton will oversee the college’s student-centered programs, such as the advisement center, curriculum and assessment, off-campus study and student grievances. Barton is particularly interested in nurturing and further developing teaching and learning across the college.
“Gary’s service as associate chair in the Visual Arts Department and his work on other important department and university committees, along with his experience as a Teaching and Learning Fellow over the past three years, have given him unique perspectives about ways to support and foster good teaching and learning,” Jones said. “I’m confident he will be able to continue and enhance the good work being done across the college in curriculum redesign and assessment.”
Jones also expressed great confidence in Boothe. Based on prior production experience as director of the Young Ambassadors, Boothe will assume directorship of the Division of Design and Production within the college.
“Randy brings a tremendous wealth of experience to this position. For more than three decades his artistic influence has helped BYU’s Young Ambassadors reach millions of audience members and taken him all across the globe,” Jones said. “He understands the wide gamut of issues needed to help ensure our college’s performing artists and those who support them succeed at their highest levels.”
Barton is a professor of visual arts and teaches in the 2-D studio area, which includes painting, drawing, printmaking and new genre. He received an MFA in printmaking at The Ohio State University in 1994 where he was a recipient of the University Fellowship. He has been a member of the BYU faculty for 16 years.
As an artist, he works primarily in two-dimensional media including painting, printmaking and mixed media. He has shown his work extensively in national and international exhibitions and has received numerous grants and awards for his work including the Award for Excellence in Creative Works from the College of Fine Arts and Communications and the Utah Arts Council Visual Arts Fellowship.
While at BYU, Barton has served as 2-D studio area coordinator and associate chair of the Department of Visual Arts and has been the director or associate director of six study abroad programs. He has also served on the Gordon B. Hinckley Presidential Scholarship Committee, the London Center Study Abroad Committee and the University Rank and Status Council.
Boothe received his bachelor’s degree in music from BYU-Hawaii in 1975 where he graduated summa cum laude and served as valedictorian. He completed his master of music degree at BYU in 1979. He is an associate professor in the School of Music. As artistic director for the Young Ambassadors, he has led international tours over the past 26 years that have taken him to more than 40 countries.
He served as director of “Light of the World,” the 2002 spectacular presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the LDS Conference Center. Each summer he is music director for the Jackson Hole Playhouse and directs the Young Ambassadors Singing Entertainer Workshop for high school students. He has served as an international consultant and show development team member for the EPCOT Center and is also an entertainment consultant for the Magic Kingdom in California and Florida.
In 1989, Boothe received the K. Robert Neeley Foundation Award for "giving of himself unselfishly, in seeking universal understanding and fellowship through the performing arts." In 2000, BYU-Hawaii honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award.
For more information, contact Christopher Wilson at (801) 422-8251.
Writer: Christopher Wilson
