Seton Hill names new dean for visual, performing arts

Seton Hill University has named Kellee Van Aken as dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Van Aken, associate professor of theatre and chair of the Theatre and Dance Department at Seton Hill, joined the faculty in 2011 and has served as interim dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts since July 2019.

As interim dean, university officials said, Van Aken was instrumental in the success of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s performance of “Classical Romance” at Seton Hill in November and the PBT dance residency and master class programs that benefited both Seton Hill dance students and youth dancers from the community. As chair of the Theatre and Dance department, Van Aken helped to coordinate the 2019 American College Dance Association Mid-Atlantic North Conference, which brought more than 200 dance students and faculty from 18 colleges and universities to the Seton Hill campus.

She previously directed several productions at Seton Hill, including “Letters to Sala,” “Good Person of Setzuan,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “A Little Night Music,” “Urinetown,” “Salvation Road,” “Running in Traffic,” “Cabaret,” “Macbeth,” “Kindertransport” and “Life Is a Dream.”

“Kellee Van Aken has served Seton Hill and its School of Visual and Performing Arts well as interim dean over the last six months,” President Mary Finger said. “Her leadership and commitment to our students made her the perfect choice for the permanent deanship. All of us at Seton Hill anticipate the continued growth of Seton Hill’s Visual and Performing Arts programs under Kellee’s direction.”

Van Aken said she hopes to build Seton Hill’s relationship with Greensburg and create additional opportunities to connect the university with the community through the arts.

“We have two beautiful facilities in the city and committed partners working with us to help us grow,” she said.