A Welcome from the Dean

I am pleased to welcome you to the web pages of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at Western Washington University. We are proud to be a regional cultural center, providing education, outreach, and cultural opportunities for northwest Washington, British Columbia, and beyond. We value the fact that our alumni perform with the Metropolitan Opera, teach in small rural schools and large urban centers, travel the world, and engage in humanitarian service. We take pride in the fact that our outdoor sculpture collection is consistently ranked as one of the ten finest in the United States. We take satisfaction in the fact that our faculty members maintain professional careers in conjunction with their teaching and that our students regularly garner awards in regional and national competition.

Hmm, really now, what dean wouldn’t be expected to tout the quality of his or her college’s faculty, students, cultural programs, and performance venues? So, instead of continuing on this worthy albeit expected track, I leave it to you to explore what awaits you should you choose to join us for an event, an education, a career, or a lifetime.

I encourage you to peruse the information contained on these web pages and accessible through this web site. Look closely. Read between the lines. Ask yourself questions. Ask whether or not you will have access to academic programs and creative opportunities of a high quality and opportunities to engage meaningfully with other students and with faculty mentors? Do our course descriptions interest you? Do they appear challenging and worthwhile? Will you find inspiration here? Will you laugh? Sweat? Challenge yourself? Expand distant horizons and discover what is close at hand? Gain a greater sense of your uniqueness and worth? Will coming here serve as a springboard for your dreams and aspirations?

Determine for yourself, or with our help, if Bellingham, Western, and the College of Fine and Performing Arts are right for you. Decide if you wish to move to the next level in exploring what we offer by contacting our departments and programs to schedule a visit, speak with a faculty member, academic advisor, or student, look into our reputation.

Continue your journey.

Ron Riggins
Dean, College of Fine and Performing Arts