Randolph announces new MFA in Arts Administration

Randolph College is launching a new low-residency graduate program in arts administration—one of only a few of its kind in the country. 

“This new MFA in Arts Administration builds on our established strengths in the arts and reflects a key priority in our strategic plan—to expand innovative, career-focused graduate programs,” said Tim Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We’re excited to offer students a distinctive path that will open new doors and position our graduates for leadership in the arts sector.”

Set to begin during the fall of 2026, the terminal degree program will prepare graduates for leadership roles in diverse arts fields and the broader nonprofit sector. 

It builds on the success of the College’s existing MFA programs in creative writing and theatre, which currently account for more than 10 percent of Randolph’s student body. 

The MFA in Arts Administration follows a similar model. Each session will begin with an on-campus residency. In addition, the curriculum for each semester will include a project-based mentorship that serves as the anchor for that semester’s learning, along with a specific content course to deepen the student’s understanding of theory and practices in the field. 

The program will also require a thesis residency. Like Randolph’s other MFA programs, classes will be taught by national experts in the field.

“Our success with low-residency graduate programs has sparked conversations about expanding into new areas, and it felt like a natural progression to build on that momentum—particularly within the arts, where we’ve already seen strong results,” said Gary Dop, dean of innovation and director of the College’s MFA in creative writing. “This new program will serve the broad national network of professionals working in arts organizations, as well as our current undergraduate and graduate students interested in leadership roles in the field.” 

“We are excited about the creation of this new graduate program,” added Meghan Halbrook, director of graduate studies and director of the Master of Arts in Coaching and Sports Leadership. “This development marks a major strategic goal and demonstrates our continued commitment to academic excellence and innovation in graduate education at Randolph College. This program will offer students expanded opportunities for advanced study through a low-residency, highly mentored experience. We look forward to the positive impact it will have on our campus, the Lynchburg community, and the broader arts fields.”

The curriculum will include courses such as Collective Action in the Arts, Culture and Program Design, Community-Centered Resource Strategies, and Organization Leadership. 

“In developing this proposal, we consulted with external experts and received encouraging feedback from the Faculty Representative Committee and the administration,” Dop said. “Their insights helped shape a program that is aligned with Randolph’s strengths and the needs of this rapidly growing profession.”