On Friday, January 17, Roy Haggerty, LSU Executive Vice President & Provost, announced:

“I am pleased to share that Dr. Arne Flaten has been named the next dean of the LSU College of Art & Design. He will officially assume the role on July 1, 2025, pending approval from the Board of Supervisors.”

Prior to his appointment at Purdue in 2019, Flaten served as the Director of the School of Art at Ball State University, Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Coastal Carolina University, and Associate Dean of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at Coastal Carolina University.

Flaten received his undergraduate degrees in Studio Art and English Literature from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his master’s and doctoral degrees in Italian Renaissance Art History from Indiana University-Bloomington. Flaten has received numerous external grants and fellowships from organizations such as the William J. Fulbright Commission, the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the J. Paul Getty Research Institute, and the Renaissance Society of America, among others.

In 2013, Flaten was named the HTC Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at Coastal Carolina University, the university’s highest honor, and in 2014, he was elected to the European Academy of Science and Arts—Salzburg. In addition to other regional, national, and international affiliations, Flaten is a program site reviewer for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), serves on the Advisory Board of a2ru, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the International Council for Fine Arts Deans (ICfAD).

Dr. Flaten brings a distinguished record of leadership, scholarship, and creativity to a pivotal role on our campus. His fresh perspective and new ideas will open new avenues of opportunity and collaboration, enrich the student and faculty experience, and further solidify the College’s reputation as a leader in art and design education.

In addition to the role of dean, Dr. Flaten will hold the President’s Distinguished Professorship in Art History.

“I also want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Interim Dean Rod Parker for his excellent leadership. He will remain interim dean through June 30, at which point the position will transfer to Dr. Flaten,” Haggerty said.

The LSU College of Art & Design welcomes Dr. Flaten warmly!