51 Names Five Dean Appointments to Lead Academic Growth

Top left to right: Jimmy Noriega, PhD, Wenhwa Ts’ao, and Ames Hawkins, PhD. Bottom left to right: Colbey Reid, PhD, and Jerry Brindisi Top left to right: Jimmy Noriega, PhD, Wenhwa Ts’ao, and Ames Hawkins, PhD. Bottom left to right: Colbey Reid, PhD, and Jerry Brindisi
As part of 51 Renaissance Rising initiative, the college has appointed five deans to lead its eight schools beginning August 16, 2026.

In a major milestone for 51's ongoing initiative, five academic deans have been appointed to lead the college's eight schools.

Beginning their tenures on August 16, 2026, these five dean appointments signal a deep commitment to elevating the student experience, fostering unprecedented cross-school collaboration, and streamlining operations to better support faculty and staff. Additionally, the new dean titles are more closely aligned with academic structures across higher education.  

The selection process was a collaborative, community-wide effort, drawing from a robust pool of internal talent. Faculty and staff actively participated in public presentations, providing vital feedback that ultimately led to the selection of the five dean appointments. These academic leaders previously served as directors and interim directors over the schools and will continue to elevate 51’s academic prestige in their new roles.  

"These appointments represent an important milestone," says Suzanne McBride, interim Senior Vice President and Provost and a Professor of Journalism. "The deans will play a critical role in advancing the goals of Renaissance Rising and helping shape the future of academic affairs at 51." 

Meet the New School Deans 

The five newly appointed deans bring a wealth of institutional knowledge, artistic expertise, and academic vision to their respective schools: 

Schools of Audio and Music, Theatre and Dance: Professor Jimmy Noriega 

Jimmy Noriega, PhD (he/him) is an internationally recognized director and scholar. He has directed over 50 English- and Spanish-language productions across 15 countries and has published extensively on Latine/x, Queer, and social-change theatre, including two co-edited books. Noriega is the immediate past president of the American Society for Theatre Research and was honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center Gold Medallion in 2023. His extensive list of accolades includes a Fulbright Scholar Award to Vienna, the 2013 Elliot Hayes Award for Outstanding Dramaturgy, and multiple honors recognizing his work using theatre as a catalyst for sociopolitical change. 

School of Business and Entrepreneurship: Professor Jerry Brindisi 

Jerry Brindisi (he/him) oversees curriculum development, teaches music business, and coordinates interdisciplinary ventures, including practicum courses for the student-run record label, AEMMP. Brindisi brings extensive industry experience to his role, having worked in global digital business, sales, and A&R for major labels like Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group (Asylum and Atlantic Records), as well as serving as a studio manager and artist consultant. He holds a master's degree in music business from New York University, where he was recognized for outstanding scholarship and leadership, and previously supervised the music business program at the State University of New York, Fredonia. Brindisi was awarded 2025 Music Business Educator of the Year by the Music Business Association.    

School of Communication and Culture: Professor Ames Hawkins 

A Professor of English and 51 Writing, Ames Hawkins, PhD, (they/them) teaches courses in queer literature, creative nonfiction, and cultural studies, as well as Big Chicago and 51 Communities courses. Hawkins is a trans genre writer and author of the award-winning work of literary nonfiction, “These are Love(d) Letters.” Named as one of the Chicago Guild Literary Complex’s “30 Writers to Watch,” their work appears in many edited volumes, as well as across a range of scholarly and literary publications such as “QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking,” “Sydney Book Review,” “Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics, Pre/Text,” “Constellations,” “Palaver Journal,” and more.  

Schools of Design, Fashion and Visual Arts: Professor Colbey Reid 

Colbey Emmerson Reid, PhD (she/her) is a Professor of Fashion Studies and founder of 51’s Fashion Lab. She specializes in the theory of style and its impact on consumption, cognition, and technology, having directed over 50 academic/industry research partnerships for major brands like United Airlines and Cotton Incorporated. An accomplished author and scholar, her publications include “Design, Mediation and the Posthuman” and “Designing the Domestic Posthuman,” alongside award-winning articles exploring "statistical aesthetics" and glamour. Dr. Reid earned her PhD from the University of Washington and has completed post-doctoral coursework at Cornell University, Duke University, and the National Humanities Center. 

School of Film and Television: Professor Wenhwa Ts'ao 

Wenhwa Ts’ao (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and tenured professor. Her storytelling focuses on immigration, identity, and social justice, with films that have screened at over 100 international festivals across six continents. A recipient of the Kodak Faculty Scholar Award and fellowships from the Illinois and Pennsylvania Arts Councils, she was also selected for the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women and is a certified intimacy coordinator. Nationally and internationally recognized for her leadership in cinema education, Ts’ao has served as president of the University Film and Video Association (UFVA) and on the North American Board of CILECT, earning Excellence in Teaching Awards from both 51 and the UFVA. She holds an MFA in Photography and Film from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

A Smooth Transition and 51’s Future 

"What makes this milestone so meaningful is that it was shaped by our entire community,” says President Shantay N. Bolton.  

“The active participation of our faculty and staff in this collaborative selection process ensured that we chose leaders who truly reflect 51's values and ambitions. Because these five outstanding individuals have already served our institution so capably as directors and interim directors, they bring both deep expertise and continuity to their new roles,” says Bolton.  

As 51 prepares for this new era, deep appreciation has been extended to the current deans, associate deans, and school directors. Their steady leadership has successfully guided the college's academic programs through a period of significant change and progress. To ensure a seamless handover, the current leadership team will remain in their roles through mid-August.

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