
About Us
The David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities springs from earlier efforts to establish a center that supported humanistic research. Expanding this idea to include both the arts and humanities, a group of faculty from architecture, English, fine arts, history, music, philosophy, and the School of Languages, Cultures and Race designed a proposal to create a center that supported not only traditional forms of scholarly and creative work but also the sort of publicly-engaged work that characterizes a land-grant university. This vision subsequently garnered support from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Research, the Graduate School, the WSU Libraries, and the Office of the President, all of which believe that the arts and humanities are vital to the health and vitality not only of our institution but also our society. The center was formally approved by the WSU Board of Regents in May 2019.
Pollart Center activities are coordinated by a director who is jointly appointed by the dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences and the vice president of research. The director is supported by an associate director, an advisory board, as well as other faculty who participate in the planning and selection for the Pollart Center’s scholarships, fellowships, and public programming. Faculty interested in participating more directly in the operations of the Pollart Center are encouraged to contact us via email.
David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities Leadership
- Chris Dickey
CAH Director
Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium
School of Music - Joe Hedges
CAH Associate Director
Associate Professor of Painting/Intermedia
Department of Art - Sara Brock
CAH Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Candidate in Rhetoric and Composition
Department of English
Advisory Board
- Donna M. Campbell
Professor
Department of English
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Samuel Ginsburg
Assistant Professor
School of Languages, Cultures, and Race
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Becky James
Research Development Manager
College of Arts and Sciences - Claudia Leeb
Associate Professor of Political Theory
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs (Vancouver Campus)
(Fall 2024-Spring 2027) - M.A. Miller
Assistant Professor
Department of English
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Erica Nicol
Faculty, Instruction Team Leader WSU Libraries
(Fall 2024-Spring 2027) - Reza Safavi
Professor
Department of Art
(Fall 2021-Spring 2026)
- Nishant Shahani
Associate Professor
Department of English and Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (Vancouver Campus)
(Fall 2024-Spring 2027) - Clif Stratton
Associate Professor
Department of History
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Sophia Tegart
Assistant Professor
School of Music
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Gregory Turner-Rahman
Professor
Department of Digital Technology and Culture
(Fall 2024-Spring 2027) - Patty Wilde
Associate Professor
Department of English (Tri-Cities Campus)
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028) - Insook Webber
Associate Professor
School of Languages, Culture, and Race
(Fall 2025-Spring 2028)