Executive Dean Gretchen Ritter has appointed Professor of History of Art Andrew Shelton to serve as the interim chair of the theatre department from July 1, 2020 to July 30, 2021.

Shelton is an historian of 18th and 19th Century European art with a focus on Romantic-era Paris. He researches the ideological and sociological dimensions of art-making, with a particular emphasis on issues relating to sexuality and gender. He is currently working on a book entitled Achille Deveria: Art, Identity, and Commerce in Early Nineteenth-Century Paris.

Shelton served two terms as chair of the Department of History of Art, 2006 - 2014, during which time he led the unit through semester conversion as well as its first comprehensive program review. As chair, Shelton also hired three new assistant professors who have since gone on to earn tenure and become leading scholars in their fields. "I am thrilled at the opportunity of working with the faculty, students, and staff of the Department of Theatre," Shelton noted. "They are extremely accomplished across the board, and it will be a privilege to advocate for them at the college and university levels."