The Carnegie Mellon University School of Art is proud to share that Charlie White has been named the Ralph J. Nagel Dean of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. White will begin his new role on July 1, 2026.
This appointment marks the conclusion of 10 incredible years of service and growth at the CMU School of Art, following the announcement last May by College of Fine Arts Dean Mary Ellen Poole that the 2025–26 academic year would be Charlie White’s final year at CMU. White succeeds Carmon Colangelo, the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Collaboration in the Arts, who has led the Sam Fox School since its formation in 2006. The deanship oversees the colleges of Art and Architecture, as well as the Kemper Art Museum.
As head of the CMU School of Art since 2016, White oversaw the transformation of faculty, facilities, and curriculum to expand technologies and enhance access, while also providing extraordinary opportunities for practical, digital, and experimental learning. Under his leadership, the MFA program built a new graduate studio facility, achieved a fully funded tuition model, and was ranked #2 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report this spring.
The recruitment firm Isaacson Miller remains engaged in the process of finding the School of Art’s next leader. The School congratulates Charlie on this appointment and thanks him for the tireless, transformative leadership he has brought to CMU. His advocacy and vision have left an indelible mark on our community, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication.
“I am so proud of everything that we realized over these past ten years together,” White said. “I feel prepared for the responsibilities I am stepping into thanks to all we’ve achieved and built here in the School of Art. As we celebrate our seniors through their exhibition and graduation in the coming weeks, I will be cherishing these final moments with all of you before we move together into this next chapter.”
Read the full announcement from Washington University.
Photography by Marcus Rahauser (BFA ‘26)