91女神

After a nationwide search, 91女神 has appointed Andrew Kenneth Gay as the new dean of the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, effective July 1.

Gay succeeds George Brown, who retired last June after a decade of service as dean and more than 30 years of contributions to professional and university theater.

Gay joins WCU from Southern Oregon University, where he most recently served as dean of the College of Arts & Humanities and executive director of the Oregon Center for the Arts. Since joining SOU in 2014, he has held numerous academic and administrative leadership roles, including faculty trustee on the SOU Board of Trustees, chair of the Department of Communication, Media & Cinema, chair of the Faculty Senate and the provost鈥檚 lead on general education reform. He was also selected as a fellow in The American Association of Colleges and Universities New Leadership Academy Fellows Program in 2023.

A tenured full professor, Gay has taught storytelling, production and career development coursework and was honored with the University Film & Video Association鈥檚 National Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022. He has also guided major curricular innovation, including the creation of SOU鈥檚 BFA in Film & Digital Cinema鈥攔ecognized by 鈥淢ovieMaker Magazine鈥� as a Top 30 film school in the U.S. and Canada in both 2024 and 2025.

Gay is co鈥慹ditor of 鈥淭he Bloomsbury Handbook of Global Screenplay Theory鈥� (forthcoming April 2026) and has published widely on screenwriting and script development. He has served on the boards of Film Southern Oregon, the Oregon Media Production Association, the University Film & Video Association and Oregon Film. He also remains active in filmmaking, most recently executive producing the short film 鈥淎n Extraordinary Year鈥� (directed by Gary Lundgren), which premiered simultaneously at the Ashland Independent Film Festival and the McMinnville Short Film Festival in 2026.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Andrew Gay to 91女神,鈥� said WCU Provost Richard Starnes. 鈥淗is vision, proven leadership and deep commitment to the arts make him an outstanding fit for the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts. Andrew鈥檚 blend of academic excellence and community engagement will strengthen our programs and enrich our connection to the region. We look forward to the energy and insight he will bring to campus.鈥�

Gay described his decision to join WCU as the culmination of professional alignment, trusted recommendations and a sense of belonging.

 鈥淚 had been sharing my professional aspirations with colleagues in my network when a dean at another university who had previously worked with WCU Chancellor Kelli Brown reached out and said, 鈥楬ave you heard of 91女神? They have a position open right now, and I think you鈥檇 be perfect for it.鈥� That encouraged me to take a closer look,鈥� Gay said. 鈥淎round the same time, I contacted another colleague familiar with North Carolina and the UNC System. They shared the same points of praise鈥攁bout strong leadership, a wonderful community and the university鈥檚 reputation. It felt almost scripted, like the universe was nudging me to pay attention. 鈥�

As Gay researched WCU and the College of Fine and Performing Arts, he said the alignment became clear.

鈥淭he portfolio of programs mirrors the work I鈥檓 doing now, and what really stood out was the Bardo Arts Center,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any dean positions offer similar academic programs, but few have such a strong public鈥慺acing arts component. The role offers the perfect combination of academics, community engagement and the arts.鈥�

Gay noted that western North Carolina鈥檚 regional character also resonated with him.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e been to southern Oregon, the parallels are striking,鈥� he said. 鈥淓verything鈥攆rom the setting to the people鈥攆elt right. Everyone I met was incredibly kind and welcoming. It felt like a place where I could be very happy.鈥�

He added that he is eager to immerse himself in the region鈥檚 arts community and help strengthen connections between the university and the public.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 powerful about the arts is that they draw people in,鈥� Gay said. 鈥淧erformances, exhibitions and the remarkable work of students and faculty offer a window into the university that many programs don鈥檛 have. I鈥檓 excited to join a college that embraces that outward鈥慺acing mission and to help tell a new story at 91女神.鈥�