Colin Blakely will step down as director of the University of Arizona School of Art at the end of June, ending a 10-year tenure that saw him raise the school’s visibility and overall excellence while becoming a recognized campus leader.

Blakely, a professor in the school’s Photography, Video and Imaging program, plans to stay on as a member of the School of Art faculty.

Since taking over as director in July 2015, Blakely ramped up fundraising and oversaw major capital construction and renovation projects; increased undergraduate enrollment and degree programs; helped diversify the faculty and student body; and shifted the school to become more outwardly facing to the campus and community.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the school and all that it has accomplished. During my time here I have seen leadership amongst the faculty and staff blossom,” Blakely said. “This gives me confidence that the exciting evolution we have achieved will well outlive my tenure as director.”

With major capital gifts stewarded by Blakely, the school renovated the Art Building, the plaza in front of it and the Graduate Studios from 2022 to 2024. The results included renovated galleries to showcase student work and the First-Year Experience program; an atrium common space which is well-used by students and faculty for informal events; an open plaza that is a gateway to Arts District, including the University of Arizona Museum of Art and the Art Building; a newly conceived Visual Resource Center; and a new office space for the School’s administration. The School of Art is now more visible from Olive Road and amid the Arts Campus while projecting a more welcoming facade.

“As director, Colin has strived to forge a cohesive community of faculty and administrative staff, putting the long-term success of the School of Art and the well-being of its faculty and staff at the center,” Art History Professor Irene Bald Romano said. “Colin has consistently kept his eye on a broad vision for the school.”

Under Blakely, the number of majors increased from 500 to over 800 this year, including 65 graduate students, thanks to new online and in-person course offerings and degrees and retention efforts. He encouraged the creation of the innovative, multi-disciplinary Design: Arts and Practices B.A. program in collaboration with the School of Architecture and the School of Information — attracting some 200 students annually and growing, both on campus and online — and a new B.A. in Live and Immersive Arts with the School of Theatre, Film & Television. He helped the school create a Student Resilience Fund and awarded over $10,000 to those in financial need to help retain majors. He also oversaw significant curricular revisions to the MFA program as well as an expansion of the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, with a joint program between the school’s Art History and Art and Visual Culture Education programs.

“Colin has brought to the School of Art an unusual combination of an artist’s perspective — that of a photographer — with a special understanding of the work and needs of Studio Art faculty and students, a sensitivity to the academic units of Art History and Art and Visual Culture Education, deft administrative skills, and a keen analytical mind,” Romano said.

The school markedly diversified its student body and faculty of color under Blakely’s leadership, and he led the faculty in developing criteria for more equitable tenure and promotions processes, while actively encouraging DEI efforts in the school and College of Fine Arts. Upon his arrival, just over 10% of faculty came from diverse ethnic backgrounds, primarily concentrated in one program. That rate has grown to over 30%. The diversity of the student body increased from 38% to just under 50%.

To support these populations, Blakely worked with faculty to start mentoring and advocacy groups within the school for both student and faculty of color. He helped make sure the faculty group became an important voice at the college and division level. School of Art faculty are now leading important DEI efforts across the division and university, including Professor Amelia (Amy) Kraehe, who is now serving as Associate Vice President for Equity in the Arts, and Regents Professor Sama Alshaibi, who is co-Director of the Racial Justice Studio.

“Colin has been supportive of faculty recruiting efforts, setting up a mentoring system to ensure junior faculty are nurtured in their early years and supported through the tenure process,” Romano said. “He has also instituted twice-annual undergraduate mentoring sessions in which School of Art majors meet with faculty in their program area to discuss near and long-term progress and goals, alongside meetings with the advising staff.”

To increase the school’s visibility, Blakely forged partnerships on campus by participating on the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Search Committee, Strategic Advisory Council, Arizona FORGE (now Startup Wildcats) and Advisory Board of Center for University Education Scholarship (CUES). In addition, he supported the Visions Program in Scottsdale, helping underrepresented youth practice and engage with art.

Blakely partnered with the Center for Creative Photography on symposia, searches and committees to improve the connection between the CCP and students in the school’s Photography, Video and Imaging program and Art History program. As such, the school’s MFA program saw its ranking in U.S. News and World Report increase from No. 55 to No. 32 — and from No. 8 to No. 3 in Photography. In addition, he implemented a new brand identity, a redesigned website and new communications strategy for the school, hiring a specialist in communications and outreach. And to raise visibility for the school’s programs, he launched a “Free Graduate School” campaign.

What made Blakely doubly proud during his tenure was watching the School of Art’s graduates move on to successful careers as artists, museum curators, art educators and professionals in other fields.

“Who better understands creativity than art majors?” Blakely asked. “Thus, it’s no surprise to learn that our graduates have seen great success in careers outside the arts as well as inside. When I get asked what you can do with an art major, the true answer is simple: Anything you want.”

In addition to his director duties, Blakely has represented the School of Art at the highest levels of the university. He recently took on the role of co-executive director of HeadsNetwork, representing over 250 heads, chairs and directors across campus — working to foster a sense of community and camaraderie while organizing curriculum and training for new heads.

For three years, he served as Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives of Arizona Arts, working closely with the Dean and VP of Arizona Arts to guide some strategic planning for the umbrella unit of the School of Art. He also served on the strategic planning team for the university as co-author of the “Making Arts and Culture Central to the UA Experience” strategic initiative, and he’s been involved with budget planning as a member of the RCM 3-Year Budget Review Committee and AIB Steering Committee. Nationally, he serves on the National Council of Arts Administrators and is a Site Visitor for the National Association of Schools of Art (NASAD). Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for the College Art Association.

“Colin has built a community of trust, with a high degree of mutual respect among the faculty and staff,” Romano said. “He’s represented the School of Art at the highest levels of the university in a positive and constructive way.”

Before coming to the U of A, Blakely was department head and a professor of photography at Eastern Michigan University, where he was on the faculty for 14 years and served as chair of the university’s budget council. His work has been shown at Fotofest Houston, the Society for Contemporary Photography, the Pingyao International Photography Festival, the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Photographic Center Northwest and the Jen Bekman Gallery He was a runner-up for the 2009 Aperture Portfolio Prize and a Winter 2007 Hot Shot. Publications include Pause to Begin, Photography Quarterly, and The Humble Collectors’ Guide to Emerging Art Photography.

Blakely received his B.A. from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with a double major in Math and Studio Art, and his M.F.A. in Photography from the University of New Mexico.