Steve TenEyck serves as Dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College, where he provides academic and strategic leadership for a multidisciplinary community of approximately 780 students and 125 faculty and staff across music, theatre, and dance. Working closely with faculty and staff, his work focuses on strengthening academic programs, aligning faculty and financial resources with changing enrollment patterns and long-term program sustainability, supporting student success, and creating greater opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and the College.
TenEyck has played a significant role in the formation and development of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance since its creation in 2022, helping shape its academic organization, governance, operating practices, and strategic direction. This work has included helping redesign and integrate admissions and recruitment across music, theatre, and dance, creating a more coordinated school-wide approach that has contributed to increased applications, yield, and enrollment. Prior to becoming Dean, he served as Associate Dean, Chair and Associate Chair of Theatre Arts, and as a faculty member in the B.F.A. Theatre Production and Design program.
Across these roles, he has helped lead a broad renewal of the School's academic portfolio, supporting the development and launch of new programs including Dance and Choreography for Musical Theatre, B.F.A.; Stage Management, B.F.A.; Integrative Performing Arts Studies, B.A.; and Creative Industries, B.A., as well as the revival of Master of Music programs in performance, conducting, and composition. The return of these graduate programs has strengthened opportunities for advanced study and the connection between undergraduate and graduate music education. His leadership has also included national accreditation and assessment efforts, including the School's successful 2024 NAST accreditation review, as well as academic planning, resource stewardship, and organizational change.
TenEyck has worked closely with alumni, donors, and College partners to expand opportunities for students beyond the classroom. Philanthropic support has helped make possible initiatives including the launch of the Ithaca College Pep Band, performances at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, an endowed New York City Field Studies program, scholarships, professional development, guest artists, accessibility initiatives, and improvements to learning and performance spaces.
His approach to leadership is grounded in the belief that excellent performing arts education must combine disciplinary depth and rigor with exploration, collaboration, and meaningful connections to professional practice. He is particularly interested in how performing arts programs can evolve to meet the changing needs of students and the professions while preserving the mentorship, intensive study, and creative experiences at the heart of an excellent arts education.
Before transitioning fully into academic leadership, TenEyck maintained an active professional career as a lighting and scenic designer for theatre, opera, dance, and live events. His work has been seen at organizations including Dallas Theater Center, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Syracuse Stage, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Gulfshore Playhouse, Florida Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Madison Opera, Syracuse Opera, Anchorage Opera, Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, and numerous other companies nationally. He has also designed large-scale events for colleges and universities and worked in architectural and retail lighting design.
TenEyck earned his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with an emphasis in theatrical design, and his M.F.A. in stage design from the University of Washington School of Drama. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.