Erik Kibelsbeck, 10/24/2007
Arthur Ostrander has announced he will step down as dean at the end of the 2007-08 academic year after serving the School of Music for 37 years on the faculty, 23 of those as dean of the School of Music. He will be on sabbatical leave in 2008–09, and will retire at the end of the sabbatical year.
"Art has provided extraordinary leadership to the School of Music over the years, as well as to Ithaca College in the broadest sense," said President Peggy Williams. "We will miss him."
During his tenure as dean, Ostrander has hired 80 percent of the current full-time faculty and overseen the increase in undergraduate enrollment from about 325 to nearly 500. The number of students auditioning has grown from around 300 to 1,000, and the number of full-time faculty has increased from 48 to 61. Thanks to Ostrander's leadership, the school now regularly performs at Lincoln Center, has toured Ireland four times, and has established several endowed concert series.
The design and construction of an addition to the music building was completed in 1999, doubling the
square footage and creating one of the most beautiful and functional music facilities under one roof in
the country. Throughout this period the school's national and international visibility has
grown.
The dean is looking forward to spending more time at his vacation cottage in Maine. The entire
faculty, staff, and student body of the School of Music wish Art a wonderful "next step of life" and
hope that he will visit us frequently in years to come.
