Message from the Dean
Welcome to the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at Radford University!
The disciplines represented within our college (Art, Dance, Design, Music, and Theatre and Cinema) have a unique ability to foster imagination, innovation, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging. Our diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students are provided with a transformative educational experience. We are proud of our world-class faculty and staff that are deeply committed to mentoring students in their creative pursuits all the while producing impactful scholarship in their own professions. Hundreds of highly successful and generous alumni regularly give back in support of our students and programs each year.
In the fall of 2024, the $101 million-dollar Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity will open and house the entire CVPA as well as areas from the Waldron College of Health and Human Services. You can watch the progress on the construction of the building here! There are so many intersections among the arts and design, health, business, humanities, and technology. This state-of-the-art facility will intentionally create these collaborative spaces for our students and will allow for us to continue producing more than a hundred high quality events each season. The CVPA is also home to the Radford University Art Museum, a wonderful set of galleries that provide visual literacy and a way to understand culture and humanity through its permanent collection and rotating exhibitions.
The word “art” itself comes from the Latin ars or artem, which means “skill” or “craft.” The truth is that art, cinema, dance, design, music, or theatre is more than just a practice, it is a way of life. In the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Radford University, we will help you to cultivate your passion into a unique skillset which will generate not only a career, but a powerful tool for humanity. I have been inspired and encouraged by the creativity of our current students, faculty, and alumni and I know you will be too. The world needs the arts more than ever, so I invite you to explore our website, visit us in beautiful southwest Virginia, and join our vibrant community here at Radford!
Stephanie Caulder, D.M,
Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts