2003

Curtis Dretsch To Step Down As Vp, Dean At Muhlenberg College

Curtis Dretsch, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college for faculty at Muhlenberg College, has resigned, effective this summer. Dretsch has stated his desire to return to a teaching position in the College’s department of theatre and dance.

 Monday, January 20, 2003 11:20 AM

Curtis Dretsch, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college for faculty at Muhlenberg College, has resigned, effective this summer. Dretsch has stated his desire to return to a teaching position in the College’s department of theatre and dance.

“Curtis Dretsch is one of Muhlenberg College’s most loyal and committed employees,” says James Steffy, interim president. “He is a friend and a colleague. We appreciate his effective and dedicated service as dean. We are deeply indebted to Curtis for his many and varied contributions to the College. I am pleased that he will bring his considerable talents back to our theatre department.”

Dretsch started his Muhlenberg College career in 1979, when he was named an assistant professor in the “drama” program. At the time, drama was part of the English department. Along with department chair Charles Richter, Dretsch can claim considerable credit for building a nationally recognized, high quality theatre and dance department at Muhlenberg College.

From 1979 to 1993, Dretsch was a designer and technical director in the theatre arts department. He was named dean of the college for academic life in 1993, and in that position was responsible for academic advising, academic records and the Trexler Library. In 1996, he was named dean of the college for faculty. In 1999, he added the title of vice president for academic affairs.

During his tenure as dean, Dretsch presided over a 20 percent growth in the size of the faculty. With his encouragement and support Muhlenberg's faculty has achieved retention rates that are among the highest in the nation and graduation rates that are nearly twice the national average. Under his guidance, the College also instituted curricular revision in nearly every academic department. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dretsch has had a major impact on campus planning and design. He was an integral part of the renovation of the Haas College Center, the Ettinger Building, and the General's Quarters in Seegers Union, and the design and construction of the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Moyer Hall, and Robertson and South Halls.

A native of South Dakota, Dretsch graduated from Montana State University. He received his Master’s of Fine Arts degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He has designed professionally for the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the Pennsylvania Stage Company, the Terry Beck Dance Troupe in Philadelphia and the Dance Theatre Workshop in New York. His designs have been featured in theatre projects in Baltimore, Philadelphia, London and Edinburgh.