Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Christopher M. Schulte, Ph.D. is Associate Director of the School of Art and Interim Program Director and Endowed Professor of Art Education at the University of Arkansas. Since joining the School of Art in 2019, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, most recently as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Schulte’s research interests focus on the artistic, play-based, and aesthetic practices of children, with particular attention given to drawing and its relationship to historical and contemporary childhoods. In support of this work, Schulte founded and now directs the Center for the Study of Childhood Art, a hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching and community engagement focused on reconceptualizing the study and practice of art in children's lives. Schulte is co-editor with Dr. Laura Trafi-Prats of New Images of Thought in the Study of Childhood Drawing (2022, Springer), co-editor with Dr. Hayon Park of Visual Art With Young Children: Practices, Pedagogies and Learning (2021, Routledge), editor of Ethics and Research With Young Children: New Perspectives (2019, Bloomsbury), and co-editor with Dr. Christine Marmé Thompson of Communities of Practice: Art, Play and Aesthetics in Early Childhood (2018, Springer). In addition to his existing record of scholarship, Schulte is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Art Education Association, a recipient of the Viktor Lowenfeld Award (NAEA), an invited member of the Childhood, Law & Policy Network (CLPN) at Queen Mary University of London, an elected member of the Council for Policy Studies in Art Education (NAEA), and an elected member of the Steering Committee of the Art Education Research Institute (AERI). Additionally, Schulte is past-chairperson of the Seminar for Research in Art Education (NAEA), past-coordinator of the Elliot Eisner Doctoral Dissertation Research Award in Art Education (NAEA), and past-coordinator of the Marilyn Zurmuehlen Working Papers in Art Education (NAEA). Schulte holds a B.A. and M.A. in Art Education from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. in Art Education from The Pennsylvania State University.
Reporting to the Director of the School of Art and working with faculty, staff, and students, the Assistant Director supports Director with administrative duties related to the management of the School of Art; provides Faculty, staff, and student support; assists the Director in the development of School of Art policy and procedures; manages records pertinent to School of Art facilities, specifically faculty and staff office assignments; assists the director with School of Art fiscal planning; assists the director with complex student concerns; assists the director with strategic planning; serves as an advisor to the director for personnel matters; evaluates and approves transfer and study abroad credits; assists with general administrative operations; represents the School of Art at public events; oversees the Bridge Program and other School of Art mentorship initiatives; attends Program Director and Graduate Director meetings; and attends chairs meetings and other functions when director can’t be present.
The Program Director of Art Education is expected to assist in strategic planning, budget management, and the preparation and submission of reports for internal and external audiences, as well as representing the program and school at professional events and functions. Specific duties include but are not limited to: strategically plan for and manage program endowment(s) and related budgetary items; strategically plan for growth and vision of program; plan and manage teaching schedules; support program faculty and staff; contribute to annual resume updates, third year reviews, and tenure and promotion; plan for and prepare necessary reports for external review and accreditation; support students; attend meetings for Fulbright Program Directors and SoA Program Directors; plan and manage program meetings; coordinate with staff directors when needed regarding communications, recruitment, endowment, spending, and other operational areas related to the program; strategically plan for and manage program facilities; strategically plan for and manage program curricula, in consultation with faculty; strategically plan for faculty leave and program leadership; positive representative of program area and School of Art; other duties as assigned and needed.
As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Schulte serves as a leader in assessment, accreditation, curricular innovation and international education. He works to ensure that college programs exceed accreditation and/or reputational benchmarks. Additionally, he oversees the student experience and student-related matters for the college to guarantee a high-quality student learning experience for all students and promote inclusive excellence. His responsibilities include collaborating on and facilitating new academic programs, certificates, minors, and majors; conducting biannual assessments of program viability; supporting existing academic programs and accreditation, including program assessment; managing enrollment, small classes, Global Campus, and study abroad; supporting complex personnel and employee-supervisory matters; serving as liaison to the college’s Honors program; and representing the college on the Undergraduate Council (chair-elect) and the Strategic Enrollment Committee.