Bryan Hall clock tower sunset.

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)