Castleton is pleased to welcome new Director of the Fine Arts Center, Richard Cowden.
The former Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts Advising at Metropolitan State University of Denver and Artistic Director of Denver’s Edge Theatre Company, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the new position.
Cowden’s infectious personality and multitasking nature is a perfect fit for a job that seemingly asks him to wear multiple hats.
For starters he must direct all aspects of the FAC while working alongside department chairpersons and faculty. Secondly he is a part-time faculty member which means starting in the spring he will be teaching two classes. Lastly, Cowden is working with others to create a masters-level program for art and theater majors.
Cowden said he has many aspirations for the future of the FAC.
“Everyone here has been so great, it has gone right along with what I’m trying to do which is bring the arts in Castleton under one brand, one identity and increase the amount of people coming here from different areas,” Cowden said.
Cowden said he completely fell in love with Castleton and he has quite a bit to compare it too, originally being from Brooklyn, N.Y., before attending college in Ohio, and living in Colorado.
With enthusiasm he said his job is to “help Castleton students find doors to go through and if there are no doors existing in walls, make new doors.”
He looks forward to his future at Castleton.
“I’d like to continue to get to know people. That is one of the things that really drew me here. Coming from a campus with 50,000 students; that’s not really my style. What I see here is people really go out of their way to help each other,” Cowden said. “That’s what I really like about this place.”