Laurence A. Hinz Named President of Santa Fe University of Art and Design by Board of Directors
Hinz, active member of campus and community, helped establish university as global leader in art and design
07.28.2011
Media Contact: Maria Alexandra Velez
1-505-473-6682
maria.velez@santafeuniversity.edu
Santa Fe, N.M.—July 28, 2011—The Board of Directors of Santa Fe University of Art and Design today announced that Laurence A. Hinz has been named the university’s president, effective Aug. 1, 2011. The Board unanimously endorsed Hinz for the role. Hinz previously served as the university’s interim president and has provided guidance on rebuilding and growing the institution for the past three years.
Tom Aageson, member of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design Board of Directors, describes Hinz as a guiding force at the university and in the local community. “Larry has been a tireless champion for the university, its students, faculty, alumni and community. We are thrilled that he has accepted the role of president,” Aageson said. “Larry has the leadership skills, determination, energy and excitement we need to take our university to the next level of excellence. We are fortunate to have him at the helm.”
Hinz has been a champion of the university and has helped establish its reputation as a leading global institution of higher education in art and design. The university is a vibrant campus with nearly 500 students. It maintains both a local and international flavor: While 28% of students come from New Mexico, the university also enrolls students from 10 countries. Santa Fe University of Art and Design is also widely recognized for its faculty who have won such awards as the Whiting Writers’ Award and the Rome Prize in Literature; a 2010 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, New Mexico's highest artistic honor; and inclusion in the prestigious 2002 Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
“I am honored and thrilled for the opportunity to serve the university as president,” said Hinz. “There is something very special about this school and about the Santa Fe community. It is a privilege for me and for my family to become part of it. I look forward to working with an exceptional group of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community leaders to continue to advance the academic excellence of our university.”
Prior to his appointment as president, Hinz held several senior management positions with Laureate Education. He managed Laureate’s University of Liverpool Online operation in Amsterdam and has led international expansion efforts for Walden University. Hinz earned his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business with a concentration in finance and public policy. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University with a double major in computer science and finance. Hinz previously served on the Board of Directors of Santa Fe University of Art and Design and NewSchool of Architecture and Design, and has been active in raising money for cancer-related causes.
About Santa Fe University of Art and Design
Santa Fe University of Art and Design, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, provides students with a unique interdisciplinary curriculum that combines practical experience with core theory to prepare graduates to become well-rounded, creative problem-solving professionals. The curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, passion and outstanding performance in contemporary music, creative writing, art, performing arts, graphic design, moving image arts (filmmaking and video production), photography, business and education. Its location, in one of the world’s leading centers for art and design, provides a perfect setting for learning in a city where creativity and innovation are central to the community. For more information, visit santafeuniversity.edu.
Santa Fe University of Art and Design (formerly the College of Santa Fe) is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.
