UT’s newly elected dean of the College of Arts and Letters wants to start his position on a good note.

Well-known organist and academic, Dr. Haig Mardirosian, accepted the position after 30 years of service at the American University.

Most recently, Mardirosian was the senior vice provost, dean of academic affairs and professor of music at American University.

An accomplished composer, musician, and professor, Mardirosian brings a lot of enthusiasm and pride to the Arts and Letters department.

‘The University of Tampa has proven to be a place of enormous energy and creativity,’ Mardirosian said.

‘I am both grateful and elated to have been invited to help advance the mission and reputation of its College of Arts and Letters.’

As Dean of Academic Affairs at AU he worked with all of the faculty, making hiring and firing decisions, as well as tenure and promotion recommendations.

He also oversaw the Honors Program, graduate affairs, graduate funding, General Education Program, and the Study Abroad Program in addition to other positions and leadership roles.

Mardirosian received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the Catholic University of America.

His passion is as an organist, compiling multiple compilations and studying the famous composers such as Bach and Mozart.

He writes articles for The American Organist and contributes to several other periodicals.

He is currently the organist at the Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes in Washington, D.C.

He was one of two American organists to play at the only Soviet-American Organ Music Festival in 1989.

UT Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Janet McNew is excited that Mardirosian accepted the position and looks forward to working with him.

‘We are very fortunate indeed to attract such an artist, scholar and academic leader to nurture this fledgling college.’

Zach Fraser also contributed to this article.

Check out Dr. Haig Mardirosian’s website at http://www.haigmardirosian.com/ or his Wikipedia site at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haig_Mardirosian.

Charlie Hambos can be reached at chambos@ut.edu.

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