Dear Fine Arts Colleagues,
I write with the bittersweet news that Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Academic Affairs Raquel “Rocky” Monroe will be stepping down from her role to become dean of the Chadwick A. College of Fine Arts at Howard University. Her last day will be July 29.
Rocky joined the college in 2022, and in her three years here, she’s been a trusted leader in the college who has helped us expand our research capacity and support for graduate students. She’s worked to connect faculty and students across disciplines and helped to break down barriers to collaboration and connection.
On the research front, Rocky managed the hiring of our first full-time staff member dedicated to supporting faculty members as they apply for grant support and as they implement their grants. She’s worked to build community and connections among the cohort of graduate studies directors by bringing them together to share resources and experiences. She’s organized regular convenings for our Expanding Approaches to American Arts faculty cohort to advance interdisciplinary work across the college. The recipients of our new Fine Arts Community Engagement and Public Practice Seed Grants have launched a series of compelling projects, and Rocky worked closely with Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Public Practice Laura Gutierrez to make these new research funding resources available to faculty members.
Rocky built a series of Write and Be Well workshops to support both faculty members and graduate students in creating a community of scholars and practitioners across the college, and she’s organized additional social programs for graduate students to connect with one another across departments and disciplines.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Rocky for her good citizenship in the college. She has been key to the development of our strategic plan, and she’s been a trusted partner to me in everything we have accomplished in the past three years. Please join me in congratulating her and wishing her all the best in her new role.
Sincerely,
