Why I Give: The New American University
As dean of the Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University, I not only have the great privilege to lead one of the top colleges at ASU, but I am also an investor. I distinctly remember reading President Michael Crow's position paper of the New American University and feeling the hair on my head stand up. I feel that ASU, as the model for the New American University, clearly articulates the need for the university to adapt and change its educational models in response to the evolving world around us.
The New American University cannot thrive without the arts, and the arts will not thrive without new models of education that interact dynamically with the realities of the world around us.
Eight years of living in El Paso, Texas taught me much about the power that lies in deep connections to a broad, diverse community. I envision ways in which the college could help knit our arts community and investors closer together to become a greater force in the education of our collective future.
Our commitment to reaching out extensively is yielding substantial new opportunities for our students, faculty and facilities, but we have a long way to go. Your personal interest and support of our vision makes a transformative difference. These are exciting times at the Herberger College of the Arts.