Arthur Liou was officially installed as the first Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair in the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University during a ceremony held at Morgan Performance Hall.
The chair is supported by a $2 million endowment from the Bobbie Bailey Foundation. The funds will be used by Liou and future deans to address priority needs for nearly 2,000 students and 300 faculty and staff in the college.
KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig said, “The names Bailey and Morgan are powerful examples of philanthropic leadership in the arts at KSU and continue to elevate our mission and enrich the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. We are proud to install Arthur Liou as the inaugural Dr. Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair and are excited to see the impact this support has on KSU’s rise to national prominence.”
Audrey Morgan and her late sister Bobbie Bailey have donated over $16 million to Kennesaw State since 1993, making them its largest combined donors. Their contributions include naming rights for several campus facilities related to music and learning.
Morgan stated, “Our family has always believed that investing in education is one of the most meaningful ways to shape a better future. Our focus has been on the arts because they enrich lives, foster creativity, and strengthen communities. For more than 30 years, we’ve proudly supported the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts and have watched KSU grow into a nationally respected institution. We’re thrilled to see Arthur Liou step into the Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair and are confident his leadership will inspire students and elevate the College’s impact even further. This is an exciting new chapter for the arts at KSU.”
Lance Burchett, vice president for University Advancement and CEO of the KSU Foundation, commented on how this gift will influence academic goals: “The Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair represents an extraordinary commitment to the arts and to the academic mission of Kennesaw State University,” he said. “The generosity of Audrey Morgan and the Bobbie Bailey Foundation ensures that our deans have the resources to innovate, elevate student success, and advance the creative excellence that defines the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts.”
Before joining Kennesaw State in July, Liou was previously affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington as Herman B. Wells Endowed Professor of Digital Art; he also served as associate dean at Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design there.
Liou is recognized nationally through fellowships from organizations such as Big 10 Academic Alliance, College Arts Association (CAA), and National Council of Arts Administrators (NCAA). His creative work includes video installation, experimental film, digital media projects exhibited internationally across institutions such as Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography; Rubin Museum in New York; Crystal Bridges Museum; National Gallery Victoria in Melbourne; Seoul Museum of Art; Taipei Fine Arts Museum; Red Brick Museum in Beijing; Art Basel: Hong Kong; Sharjah Biennial.
Liou said during his remarks: “The inaugural Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair is both a privilege and a responsibility I will carry with profound respect,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me, for the opportunity to serve the Geer College of Arts, and above all, for vision and generosity of Dr. Morgan and her family.”
