LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts Names Tara Houston Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

BATON ROUGE – LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts announced it has named Tara Houston, assistant professor of scenic design in the LSU School of Theatre, as the new associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, effective Oct. 4.

In her new position, Houston will collaborate with faculty, staff and students to cultivate on-going educational opportunities and programs, develop robust data collection surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and establish measurable goals and performance metrics to ensure the college fosters a diverse and inclusive environment across all disciplines.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the College of Music & Dramatic Arts as the first associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion,” Houston said. “To best serve our community, we must work toward a college that is actively engaged in ending the systemic racism and bias that stands in the way of our educational mission and community health. Working together, I believe we can foster an atmosphere that builds on a love for the creative arts to truly welcome students, faculty, staff and community members across a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.”

Professor Houston will continue to serve as the assistant professor of scenic design, where she designs scenery for both LSU School of Theatre and Swine Palace productions. She received a BFA in scenic design and scenic art at the University of Arizona and an MFA in scenic design from the University of Illinois. Houston is a member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, the Guild of Scenic Artists and is part of the Steering Committee for the Latinx Theatre Commons.

“I am pleased to welcome Tara Houston into her newly expanded role with our college,” said Kristin Sosnowsky, interim dean of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts. “With her demonstrated philosophy of inclusion and collaborative experience, Tara is well positioned to drive our momentum further forward as we strive to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive community for all of our faculty, staff, students and visitors.”

About the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts

The Schools of Music and Theatre within the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts offer prospective students a comprehensive selection of degree programs at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Regardless of individual discipline, students receive a wealth of resources and support, from newly renovated performance venues across campus to hundreds of public performance opportunities each year, and passionate, committed classmates who foster a unique camaraderie. Mentoring and guiding our students are our unparalleled faculty, comprised of renowned scholars, stellar performers, vibrant creators and inspiring teachers with active careers and international reputations for excellence.