The college mentioned Rashad performed a pivotal function all through her tenure in revitalizing the prominence of the fantastic arts faculty, together with attracting famous students, artists and creatives to the establishment.
“Dean Rashad has efficiently led the reestablishment of the School of Wonderful Arts as an impartial faculty that continues to draw a excessive caliber of nationally and internationally acknowledged students, artists, and creatives who function division chairs, mentors, academics, and function fashions to our immensely gifted and devoted college students,” Howard President Wayne A.I. Frederick mentioned in a be aware to campus launched by the college.
Rashad, via a college official, declined a request for touch upon her pending departure, which can come on the finish of a three-year contract.
In a 2021 interview, Rashad spoke about her hopes for the fantastic arts faculty.
“I want to see a program contemporized with out shedding data,” Rashad advised The Washington Submit. “I want to see school empowered to create and produce and design sturdy techniques and a sturdy program. I want to see college students engaged within the disciplines of fantastic arts as they take part and have interaction within the college at massive. I want to see us graduate artists who’re students as nicely.”
Rashad, who studied theater appearing and graduated magna cum laude from Howard in 1970, additionally beforehand served as a college trustee. Her sister — additionally a dancer, choreographer, actor and director — Debbie Allen, and their father, Andrew Arthur Allen, are Howard graduates too.
The choice of Rashad additionally marked a big turning level because the fantastic arts faculty reestablished its standing as an autonomous faculty throughout the college. In 1998, pushed by monetary issues, the college merged the School of Wonderful Arts into its bigger School of Arts and Sciences, a call that stirred discontent amongst performing and visible artwork college students, school members and graduates — with Rashad amongst these expressing dissatisfaction.
Months after Rashad’s rent was introduced, Howard mentioned it might rename the fantastic arts faculty after Boseman, the late actor who can also be a graduate of the college.
As dean, the college mentioned Rashad supported the creation of initiatives such because the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship program, underpinned by a $5.4 million contribution from Netflix. Additional backing from Capri Holdings, Microsoft Corp. and The Boris Lawrence Henson Basis augmented the school’s sources and scope, the college mentioned.
But, Rashad’s tenure wasn’t with out controversy. In 2021, a tweet through which she expressed help of Invoice Cosby following his launch from jail due to overturned sexual assault fees triggered criticism. Rashad apologized, noting the assertion had “brought about a lot damage in so many individuals — each broadly and contained in the Howard group.”
Rashad was named the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities at Howard earlier this yr. She additionally served because the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham College.
As Rashad transitions, Howard is readying to provoke the seek for her successor. The college additionally introduced the upcoming departures of deans Gracie Lawson-Borders of the Cathy Hughes College of Communications and Sandra Crewe of the College of Social Work by the tip of the tutorial yr.
In September, Ben Vinson III will be part of Howard as its 18th president, succeeding Frederick, who’s stepping down after main the college for almost a decade.
