College of Fine Arts Names Rebecca Brienen Associate Dean
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Rebecca Brienen, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University and founding director of the Prairie Arts Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, has been named Associate Dean of Western Michigan University’s College of Fine Arts, following a national search.
As the College’s Associate Dean, Dr. Brienen will provide broad academic and administrative leadership across the College’s programs in art, music, theatre, dance, and design, serving as a key partner to the Dean in advancing the College’s mission.
Dr. Brienen comes to WMU with a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and community engagement. An internationally recognized expert in 17th-century Dutch art, she specializes in colonial art and the art of Dutch Brazil and has published widely in these areas. She currently serves as interim president of the Midwest Art History Society.
As a professor, Dr. Brienen has been a consistent champion of experiential learning, collaborating with students on multiple exhibition projects. She earned a BA in Art History from Wellesley College, an MA in Theology from Harvard University, and an MA and PhD in Art History from Northwestern University in 2002. She joined OSU in 2013 as head of the Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History after a decade on the faculty of the University of Miami.
Dr. Brienen is the founding director of the Prairie Arts Center, a community arts and university extension facility in Stillwater that connects OSU’s arts programming to the broader public. She has served as Associate Dean at OSU since 2020.
Dr. Brienen’s experience as a leader and her commitment to experiential learning made her an exceptional fit for the College of Fine Arts. We are delighted to welcome her to WMU.
Since 2024, Dr. Brienen and her corgi Howard have participated in a university-wide therapy dog and mental health initiative at OSU, reflecting her dedication to student wellbeing alongside academic excellence.
"I am delighted to join the College of Fine Arts," Dr. Brienen said. "The College is a dynamic hub of innovation, driven by accomplished faculty and exceptional students. I was fortunate enough to experience this first-hand in April by attending WMU Theatre's production of Sweeney Todd, which left me deeply impressed. I look forward to bringing my experience in public higher education to WMU and collaborating with Dean Guyette to support the College’s continued momentum."