Richard Holly named ARTS NC STATE Executive Director

Dr. Mike Mullen, Vice Chancellor and Dean in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at NC State University, announced today that Richard Holly has agreed to serve as executive director of ARTS NC STATE.

Holly comes to NC State from Northern Illinois University where he has served as Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts since 2008. During that time, he was a founding board member of the DeKalb Area Arts Council and an active member with the Rockford Arts Council. He is also co-chair of the Higher Education Board for Arts Alliance Illinois and the Panel Lead for the Arts in Education Panel of Chicago Public Schools.

“I am very pleased that Rich has agreed to join us to lead ARTS NC STATE into the future,” said Mullen. “His experience and breadth of knowledge in the arts will bring a fresh perspective to our programs and provide the vision necessary to continue our tradition of producing high-level arts programming for our students and the community.”

Holly’s artistic background is largely in percussion instruments. He has been a Professor of Percussion at NIU since 1983, remaining active as a solo performer and clinician, and has appeared over 300 times at schools, colleges, universities, conventions and festivals throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, South America and Asia.

For Holly, moving to North Carolina is a homecoming of sorts as he received his formal training at East Carolina University, as well as the State University of New York at Potsdam.

“I am extremely excited about joining the ARTS NC STATE family,” Holly said. “The mission and opportunities in the arts that are provided to the student body and greater Raleigh community are near and dear to my heart. Everyone at NC State has been very kind and generous and I look forward to working with them to broaden the reach and impact that the arts have on everyone.”

Holly officially joins the Wolfpack on July 1, 2015.

• NIU Official Release: VPA Dean Rich Holly to N.C. State