Executive Director
The Executive Director (ED) will lead the Wharton Center to further its position as a leading university performing arts center with a sterling national reputation, highly regarded as a nexus of artistic activity in East Lansing and the Mid-Michigan region. The ED will establish and nurture innovative partnerships across the university, with national and global artists and producers, community partners, and in support of the university’s overarching educational mission including a close and collaborative working relationship with regular university arts users in Theatre and Music. Guiding the artistic direction for Wharton Center, the ED will offer performing arts programming of the highest caliber, engaging students and faculty in arts learning and creative activity, and facilitating innovative arts education for the community at large. This individual will demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and actively infuse these in all facets of the Wharton Center’s work, including staffing, performance development, audience-engagement, education, internal and community partnerships, and all creative activities. The ED will oversee all areas of operations, finance, marketing, and development, while adeptly navigating the university structure and advocating for the role of performing arts as integral to student’s academic experience. The ED reports to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Associate Provost for University Collections and Arts Initiatives.