Art college to welcome new president

After nearly a year’s search, Laguna College of Art & Design has

appointed veteran cultural executive Dennis Power as president.

The appointment is effective July 1.

“He has a long and successful leadership experience as executive

director of two cultural institutions in California. I believe his

visionary and dynamic leadership, combined with a very warm personal

and good-humored presence, make him the perfect leader for our

college,” said Shirley Rush, chairwoman of the college’s board of

directors.

Power currently serves as executive director of the Oakland Museum

of California, a post he has held since 1994. He has also managed the

Henry J. Kaiser Center, the Malonga Caquelourd Center for the Arts,

and the city’s Public Art and Cultural Funding Programs.

Power said he is very excited to be joining Laguna College.

“The college has a renowned and talented faculty and a superb

academic program,” he said. “It will be especially rewarding to help

set the course for the future and work to raise the resources to

build on past successes.”

Prior to his appointment at the Oakland Museum, Power was director

of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and before that was a

member of the life sciences curatorial staff at the Royal Ontario

Museum in Toronto, Canada.

He was born in Pasadena and received his bachelor’s and masters

degrees from Occidental College in Los Angeles. He earned a Ph.D.

from the University of Kansas.

He and his wife, Leslie, are both native Californians. Two grown

sons and two daughters live in Southern California.

“My wife and I are very much looking forward to getting to know

the community in the Laguna Beach area,” he said. “Wherever we are,

we like to get involved.”

Interim college president Helene Garrison said she is delighted

with the appointment. “Power brings to the college the kind of

experience that will help propel us to national recognition,” she

said.

Laguna College of Art & Design is a private, nonprofit college

founded on classical drawing skills. For more information, call (949)

376-6000.