About

Dean's welcome

Welcome to the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University! I’m Dan Guyette, and I have the privilege of serving as Dean of this incredible college. We’re proud of our nationally accredited programs, our talented faculty and staff and (most of all) our students. WMU is a top public university, and CFA is one of the reasons why. I’m confident you’ll find this to be a vibrant, creative and supportive place to learn and grow.

Western Michigan University is a large institution, having around 16,000 students, yet you would never feel lost in the College of Fine Arts, where 1,300 students major in the arts.

The College of Fine Arts consists of the Gwen Frostic School of Art, Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance and the Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation. All are nationally accredited.

That means the curriculum, learning opportunities, faculty, staff, facilities, governance structure and bases of support meet or exceed the standards established for high-quality learning. Each week I step into a studio, rehearsal or classroom and I can tell you first-hand that the faculty and staff are top-notch. Once you visit campus, you will see professional learning environments for the performing and visual arts. Performance halls, studios, exhibition spaces, laboratories and classrooms support your successes. Our technology labs for design students are terrific. In the college, you will meet students who are serious about studying the arts, committed to doing their best and having a great experience.

Our alumni are successful. They have used their degrees not only to make a living through art, but they make a life through the discipline and beauty that the arts entail. We are proud of our successful graduates as they teach, create, perform and serve as therapists or arts administrators throughout the nation.

If you are pursuing a career as a visual artist, actor, choreographer, composer, dancer, designer, educator, musician, scholar, therapist or theatre technician, I urge you to explore our website. Please check out the arts calendar and attend some of our events. If I can help you make arrangements, contact me.

We would like to hear from you, so email us, give us a call or write us a letter, and be sure to visit the "arts village," which is the area of campus where the arts progams are located. I think you’ll be impressed by what you see.

Thanks again for your interest in the College of Fine Arts. I hope to see you soon.

Dan Guyette
Dean
(269) 387-5811
daniel.guyette@wmich.edu