CAIRO: The American University in Cairo has named Bruce W. Ferguson as its dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Ferguson has more than 30 years experience as an art curator, critic and administrator, as well as extensive management experience in both arts and academic organizations. AUC Provost Lisa Anderson noted that Ferguson brings to the university leadership experience that will promote the school’s mission to help AUC student learn not what to think, but how to think. “The success of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is crucial to AUC’s commitment to liberal arts and critical thinking,†Anderson said “and I am confident that Dean-designate Ferguson will ensure the continuing distinction of the school and further strengthen its critical contributions to the university and its community.†Ferguson has served as the Dean of the School of Arts at Columbia University as well as president and executive director of the New York Academy of Art. He has curated more than 35 exhibitions for institutions such as the Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen, the Barbican Art Gallery in London, the Winnipeg and Vancouver Art Galleries in Canada and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. He also organized exhibitions in the international biennales of Sao Paulo, Sydney, Venice and Istanbul. A prolific writer, Ferguson has written for numerous art publications and is the co-editor of a seminal volume, Thinking About Exhibitions. He received a B.A. in art history from the University of Saskatchewan and an M.A. in communication from McGill University in Montreal. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is the largest of the schools at AUC and houses the departments of Arab and Islamic civilizations, English and comparative literature, history, performing and visual arts, philosophy, political science, rhetoric and composition, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and Egyptology, as well as the Arabic Language and English Language Institutes. In accepting the position, Ferguson said, “I cannot think of a greater opportunity than the one offered here to continue to develop and enhance the leading institution of liberal arts in Egypt and the region. I am committed to the goals of world-class education, research and public service, which are the core values of the University. I am looking forward to working with the outstanding faculty and students in forging quality experiences of mutual benefit to all.” BM
