On July 1, Dean Joel Towers announced the appointment of Dr. Sarah E. Lawrence as Dean of the School of Art and Design History and Theory. Sarah is a design historian who is highly regarded by her colleagues both within and beyond Parsons.  Her academic focus has been Renaissance decorative arts, with a specialization in Renaissance visual culture and curatorial practice. Her scholarship has focused on the work of Valerio Belli, Jacopo Strada, and Giovanni Battista Piranesi. She has curated such exhibitions as “Crafting a Jewish Style: The Art of Bezalel, 1906-1996” (1998-1999); and “Piranesi as Designer” (2007-2008).

As an associate professor, Sarah is a member of the senior faculty at Parsons, and she currently serves as the chair of our Advancement, Promotion and Tenure Committee.   She was the director of the master’s program in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from 2001 through 2011.   Sarah received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, and her masters and doctorate from Columbia University, in Renaissance Art History and in Theory and Criticism.

Dr. Lawrence’s message will be posted shortly.