Michael T. Schmidt - SUU Signature Lecture Series

Thursday, September 10, 2026 SUU Signature Lecture Series Michael T. Schmidt – Dean, College of Performing & Visual Arts, SUU Title: TBD Michael Schmidt serves as the Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University. Appointed in 2024, he previously served in several leadership roles at Valdosta State University in South Georgia, including two years as Interim Dean, six years as Associate Dean, and two terms as Head of the Department of Art & Design (2013–2016 and 2021–2022). Over the course of more than 20 years at VSU, he also taught ceramics and foundations courses while mentoring generations of emerging artists and designers. Michael’s creative work has been featured in more than 200 regional, national, and international juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, including exhibitions in China, Korea, Poland, and Germany. His creative practice frequently explores themes of use, function, industry, and material history, drawing connections between traditional craft processes and contemporary culture. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1998, where he studied graphic design, art history, ceramics, and painting. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in ceramics and sculpture from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2001.