Educator

Since 2001 Leonard Lehrer has served as Dean, School of Fine and Performing Arts, Columbia College Chicago.  Previously he held positions as chair or director of art departments and art schools at The University of New Mexico, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Arizona State University and New York University. 

His specialized expertise in graduate level studio art programming led to Arizona State University’s rapid emergence into the national arena through his concept of the Visual Arts Research Institute. Further, he initiated, developed, and implemented New York University’s first Master of Fine Arts degree program in studio art.  

Lehrer served on the College Art Association’s committee to establish national guidelines for the MFA and BFA degrees; he also was President of the MidAmerica College Art Association.

He was a member of a core committee charged with developing a new arts post-graduate level international school for consideration of EXPO 2000, the world’s fair in Hannover, Germany (sponsored by the Siemens Corporation). 

In addition, Lehrer has served as an outside reviewer for various arts programs including the University of Miami, the University of Iowa, Indiana University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and received a USIA Academic Specialist Grant to la Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia to advise in the development of graduate programs in the fine arts, including research infrastructure, and overall cultural management. 

Chair of the Arts Advisory Committee to The College Board for over ten years, Lehrer has been instrumental in developing a partnership between The College Board and Columbia College Chicago.  The 2005 Advanced Placement Summer Institute was hosted by Columbia College Chicago and proved to be a highly successful and innovative national site for AP Faculty Development in the arts.  Additional new and inventive programs are being developed for future CB/CCC AP Summer Institutes.