Professor Karen Zimmermann has been named interim director of the School of Art for the 2025-26 academic year, University of Arizona College of Fine Arts Dean Andrew Schulz announced.

Zimmermann, currently the school’s associate director, will take over in July for Colin Blakely, who is stepping down as director after 10 years. Blakely has accepted the position of associate provost at the Rhode Island School of Design.

A professor in the school’s Illustration, Design and Animation (IDA) program, Zimmermann also leads the Book Arts & Letterpress Lab. She served as the school’s acting director during the fall 2023 semester while Blakely was on sabbatical.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to Director Blakely, an outstanding leader and mentor with whom I have collaborated for nearly a decade,” Zimmermann said. “I appreciate the support of Dean Schulz, Arizona Arts and the faculty and staff of the School of Art, as I step into the interim director position.

“I feel fortunate to work with such a fantastic group of colleagues and students, and I look forward to collaborating with them in this role throughout the upcoming academic year. I’m also eager to assist the school during this transitional year and in the search for a permanent director.”

The College of Fine Arts will conduct a national search during the coming academic year, Schulz said in a note to faculty and staff.

“Karen brings to this new assignment a wealth of experience from her years as the school’s associate director, as well as from the semester during which she served as acting director,” Schulz said. “I am confident Karen will do an outstanding job, and with your support and collaboration the school will move forward in important ways under her leadership.”

Zimmermann has taught Typography, Information Graphics, Motion Graphics, Design History, Design, Culture and Language, Design Studios, Visual Narratives, and Letterpress and the Multiple. Her art practice examines print and book production and visual communication.

She has received numerous grants and awards for her design and artwork, including a School of Art Professional Development Grant, an Arizona Project Grant by the Arizona Commission of the Arts, and the UA Deans Fund for Excellence.  She was a 2020 UA Academic Leadership Institute recipient. Most recently she has  been selected  to be in the 2025 cohort of the Digital Borderlands in the Classroom Faculty Fellowship program.

Her writing has been published in “The Education of a Graphic Designer,” “The Education of an E Designer,” “The Education of a Motion Designer,” JAB (Journal of Artists’ Books), “Design Education in Progress: Methodology and Process,” American Institute of Graphic Arts, Adobe Magazine, FATE, SIGGRAPH, and Zed.

Zimmermann has been on the boards and planning committees to organize several conferences, panels and events for the Amalgamated Printers Association (APA), College Book Arts (CBAA) Annual Meeting and AIGA Geopgraphics. She has presented work in: “Action/Interaction” Panel, Columbia College; Design Studies Forum (DSF) College Arts Association “Collaboration in Design” Panel; the UA Digital Arts Education Symposium; “Women, Identity and Borders” video screenings and presentations; “Alternate Routes” Video Art Series; and “Departure/Arrival A Reflection on Diaspora” Lecture and Visiting Artist.

Blakely took over as director in July 2015 as a professor in the school’s Photography, Video & Imaging program. He 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. The School of Art saw its number of majors increase from 500 to over 800 in 2024, including 65 graduate students, thanks to new online and in-person course offerings and degrees and retention efforts.

“Professor Blakely always showed genuine interest toward students and their work,” Studio Art senior Zuly Bustamante said. “Throughout my time here, he attended gallery receptions and events, always interacting with students and engaging with the work. It’s always cherished to have someone interested in your art as a student artist. During one of my  exhibitions, Colin asked me about the material and process of creating my piece, and I was excited to share this not only with the director of the School of Art but an artist, too.”

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.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the school and all that it has accomplished. During my time here I’ve seen leadership among 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.”