Jeffrey P. Koep has been selected as dean of UNLV's College of Fine Arts, university President Carol C. Harter announced Friday.
Koep, who has been serving as interim dean of the college, was the unanimous choice of the search committee. His name was forwarded to Harter by Provost Douglas Ferraro, who strongly concurred with the committee's recommendation.
Harter said, "I am very pleased to announced Jeff's appointment to the dean's position. He already has proved himself to be an able leader with a strong commitment to students, and I know he will continue working diligently to make the College of Fine Arts the best college of its kind in the West."
Ferraro said of Koep's appointment, "His accomplishments to date are impressive, and both the president and I have every confidence that Jeff will provide effective leadership of the college into the next decade."
Koep first came to UNLV as chair of the theatre arts department in 1989 - a position he held until being appointed interim dean of the college in May 1995. The College of Fine Arts is composed of the departments of architecture, art, dance, film, music, and theatre, as well as the the Performing Arts Center.
He currently serves as co-director of the SAG Conservatory in Las Vegas, director of the National Senior Adult Theatre Institute, national vice-chair and chair-elect of the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival, and chair of the board of directors of the Society of American Fight Directors.
Koep has directed more than 100 plays during his career and has acted in a wide variety of stage productions. He also has appeared in movies and commercials.
Among his numerous awards are the Outstanding Adjudicator Award presented by the Southwest Theatre Association in 1995; the North Carolina Playwright's Center Distinguished Service Award, presented by North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin in 1993; the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Central States Speech Association in 1983; and two John F. Kennedy Center Gold Medallions presented for contributions to excellence in theatre in 1989 and 1992. Koep is one of only nine persons in the United States to receive more than one of the Kennedy Center medallions.
Before coming to UNLV, he served as chair and associate professor of communication arts at Indiana University at South Bend.
Koep earned his doctoral degree in theatre with a minor in business administration from Washington State University. He also has a master of arts degree in theatre with a minor in film studies from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a bachelor of arts degree in theatre from Moorhead State University in Minnesota.
His salary as dean will be $102,000 annually.
