Dr. Michael Kim, photo by Claus Andersen/Don Wright Faculty of Music
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Dr. Michael Kim, a distinguished concert pianist, scholar, and dean of Western University's Don Wright Faculty of Music, has been named the next dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. When Kim begins his tenure on July 1, 2026, he will become the fifth dean in the school's 50-year history.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to join Rutgers University and to serve as the next dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts," says Kim, a two-time graduate of The Juilliard School (MM, DMA) who brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience in higher education. "I was struck by the excellence of its faculty and students, the strength of its traditions, and the strong sense of community that defines Mason Gross—a community of passionate artists and fearless risk-takers."
Kim previously served as director of the School of Music at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, dean of Music and acting vice-president (External) at Brandon University, and faculty associate to the president at Lawrence University. Across these roles, he has led strategic initiatives advancing research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, student career readiness, and philanthropic growth.
Founded in 1976, Mason Gross maintains a 3:1 student-faculty ratio and offers nationally recognized programs in music, theater, dance, filmmaking, and art and design. Recent interdisciplinary initiatives include arts in health, environmental arts, and arts leadership.
Prominent Mason Gross alumni include Academy Award–nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Sebastian Stan; Golden Globe-winning actress Calista Flockhart; MacArthur "Genius" composer Courtney Bryan; guitarist Marissa Paternoster; and visual artist Malcolm Peacock, whose work appears in the 2026 Whitney Biennial.
"Mason Gross has been long recognized nationally for its excellence," Kim says. "I see tremendous opportunity to elevate its national and international stature even further. Together, we will build on this strong foundation to position Mason Gross as an international magnet for artistic excellence, innovation, and community impact—and as a leader shaping the future of artistic practice and education."
In addition to his administrative leadership, Kim is an internationally recognized pianist who has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, collaborating with distinguished conductors including Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Hans Graf.
Mason Gross School of the Arts is a vibrant community of artists and scholars committed to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Its mission is to create socially relevant art, foster diverse programming and curricula, cultivate community partnerships, and advance the arts through teaching, creative activity, advocacy, and research that contributes to the public good. Home to approximately 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as more than 300 faculty and 100 staff, Mason Gross is part of Rutgers–New Brunswick, a leading Big Ten research university serving more than 50,000 students and the flagship campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
