Kevin Concannon named professor of art history and director of the School of Visual Arts
BLACKSBURG, Va., June 10, 2011 – Kevin Concannon, professor and chair for art history, education and exhibitions in the Myers School at The University of Akron, has been named professor of art history and director of the School of Visual Arts in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech effective July 25.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kevin Concannon as the director of the School of Visual Arts, said Jack Davis, the Reynolds Metals Professor of Architecture and dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. “Kevin has an impressive career as a scholar, curator, administrator, and museum professional that has spanned almost 30 years. I am looking forward to Kevin’s leadership and community building skills in helping the School of Visual Arts achieve its full potential.”
Concannon brings years of academic experience and leadership to Virginia Tech, having served as a board member for the Southeast College Art Conference as well as chairing the College Art Association. In addition, Concannon played a vital role in obtaining a $1.4 million Lila Wallace Grant for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to develop museum programs that serve the African American community. He also administered the grant, working with African American community leaders from across the state.
Concannon’s scholarship focuses on art of the 1960s, and particularly on the work of Yoko Ono. At Akron, Concannon taught courses in art history as well as modern and contemporary art and has authored, co-authored and edited many important scholarly works on contemporary art.
Concannon received his bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his Ph.D. in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Concannon will reside in the Blacksburg area with his wife, Margo Crutchfield and their two children. Crutchfield was formerly the senior curator at the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art.
The School of Visual Arts offers four degrees, including a B.A. of art history, a B.F.A. of studio art, a B.F.A. of visual communication design and beginning in the fall of 2011 a M.F.A. of creative technologies. The programs within the school strive to “unite to serve students in their quest to become productive, progressive and creative forces in society.”
Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies is composed of four schools: the School of Architecture + Design, including architecture, industrial design, interior design and landscape architecture; the School of Public and International Affairs, including urban affairs and planning, public administration and policy and government and international affairs; the Myers-Lawson School of Construction, which includes building construction in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and construction engineering management in the College of Engineering; and the School of the Visual Arts, including programs in studio art, visual communication and art history.
- Dana Cruikshank
- 540-231-5396
- vtnews@vt.edu
