Oswego names next dean of communication, media and the arts

Dr. Julie Pretzat, associate dean of SUNY Oswego’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts, will become dean of the school effective July 1, college President Deborah F. Stanley has announced.

“In her nearly 30 years at SUNY Oswego, Dr. Pretzat has distinguished herself through excellence in teaching and mentoring students, extraordinary productivity in the performing arts and, most recently, accomplishments as an academic administrator and campus community leader,” Stanley said in making the announcement.

Pretzat’s institutional leadership positions include co-chairing the 2012 Middle States accreditation review for SUNY Oswego. She chaired Oswego’s music department for six years before becoming associate dean of the new School of Communication, Media and the Arts. In the latter capacity, she created SCMA’s Adopt-a-School program and led development of new interdisciplinary minors.

She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2006 as well as the Central New York Education Consortium’s Educator of Excellence honor. Her musical accomplishments include organizing and conducting hundreds of performances by the Oswego Festival Chorus and college choirs. She has collaborated with college, community and professional choral, musical theater and opera groups throughout Central New York.

Appointed to the SUNY Oswego faculty in 1985, Pretzat holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, a master of music degree from the University of Michigan, and a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

Pretzat will succeed the founding dean of the school, Fritz Messere, who previously announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of this academic year.

“Having been there for the very start of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, I greatly look forward to working with my colleagues to fulfill our vision as collaborative trend-setters in crafting and delivering messages though art, music, theater, communication and media,” Pretzat said.