Gwyn Richards, the David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean of the Jacobs School of Music, will step down June 30. Richards served as the dean for almost two decades, after being named dean in 2001. He will return as a faculty member of the choral conducting department.
“Dean Richards’ visionary impact on the sensational Jacobs School is already legendary,” Provost Lauren Robel said in a statement. “His understanding of the uniqueness of the school and its importance to the world of the arts is what has driven his work. Everything he has done as dean has focused on excellence.”
Under Richards’ leadership, the Jacobs School added prominent musicians like Wolfgang Brendel and Heidi Grant Murphy to the faculty and organized several world premiere performances.
The school also created many career development, community engagement and educational initiatives during Richards' tenure. These initiatives include Project JumpStart and the Fairview Violin Project which provides under-served classrooms with violin instruction.
Jeremy Allen, the Eugene O’Brien Bicentennial Executive Associate Dean of Jacobs, was named interim dean and will begin his tenure July 1.
