BATON ROUGE – LSU has named Arne Flaten the dean of the College of Art & Design, effective July 1, pending approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors.

Flaten is currently the Head of the Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance and a Professor of Art History at Purdue University.

Prior to his appointment at Purdue in 2019, Flaten served as the Director of the School of Art at Ball State University, Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Coastal Carolina University, and Associate Dean of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at Coastal Carolina University.

Flaten received his undergraduate degrees in Studio Art and English Literature from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his master’s and doctoral degrees in Italian Renaissance Art History from Indiana University-Bloomington.  

Flaten was raised in a diplomatic family and has lived and studied in other countries, including Italy, France, Israel, and Rwanda. His scholarly interests include Renaissance Europe, digital humanities, 5th century BCE Delphi, portrait medals, and popular culture. In addition to his published articles, essays, co-edited journal issues, and other writings, Flaten is the author of “Medals and Plaquettes 15th to 20th Centuries: The Ulrich Middeldorf Collection”, as well as several forthcoming books on American football cards and the drawings and prints of Albert Paley.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Flaten to LSU,” said LSU President William F. Tate IV. “His leadership experience at Purdue University makes him an excellent choice for Dean of the College of Art & Design and will further elevate the college. Dr. Flaten has also made distinguished intellectual contributions to advancing scholarship, which aligns closely with our Scholarship First agenda. Having lived and studied in various places around the world, he brings an international perspective that will greatly benefit our students. We are very pleased to have him join the LSU academic community.”

Flaten has received numerous external grants and fellowships from organizations such as the William J. Fulbright Commission, the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the J. Paul Getty Research Institute, and the Renaissance Society of America, among others.

“Dr. Flaten brings a distinguished record of leadership, scholarship, and creativity to a pivotal role on our campus,” said Executive Vice President & Provost Roy Haggerty. “His fresh perspective and new ideas will open new avenues of opportunity and collaboration, enrich the student and faculty experience, and further solidify the College’s reputation as a leader in art and design education.”

In 2013, Flaten was named the HTC Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at Coastal Carolina University, the university’s highest honor, and in 2014 he was elected to the European Academy of Science and Arts—Salzburg. In addition to other regional, national, and international affiliations, Flaten is a program site reviewer for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), serves on the Advisory Board of a2ru, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the International Council for Fine Arts Deans (ICfAD).

In addition to the role of dean, Dr. Flaten will hold the President’s Distinguished Professorship in Art History.

“LSU has an exceptional team of artists, designers, creators, thinkers, and architects in the College of Art and Design,” said Dr. Arne Flaten. “I am excited and humbled to work with such a talented faculty and staff.”