Chon Noriega Named Interim Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Dear Colleagues:
As Brian Kite transitions into his new role as dean and vice provost of graduate education on Feb. 1, I write to share that Chon A. Noriega — distinguished professor in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) — has agreed to serve as interim dean, effective Feb. 1. He will serve in this capacity until June 30, 2025, or until such time that a dean is identified and onboarded. A national search is already underway.
Professor Noriega has been a faculty member at UCLA TFT since 1992. His work explores Chicano/Latino arts and media through their aesthetic, social and institutional histories. In conjunction with his scholarship, he has actively archived the works and papers of individual filmmakers and artists, art groups and community-based arts institutions, as well as curated or co-curated research-based exhibitions for which ARTnews identified him as one of six curators “shaping the way art is presented around the globe.” Professor Noriega has also been active in facilitating access for underrepresented groups working in media and the arts. He is co-founder of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and in 2013 helped establish a national undergraduate mentorship program to diversify the curatorial ranks at six comprehensive art museums located in minority-majority cities. He has made presentations to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the U.S. Congressional Entertainment Caucus.
Professor Noriega’s leadership contributions to UCLA and the arts writ large are substantial, shaping the way we view Chicano artists, activists and communities. As director of the Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) for 19 years, he advanced multi-year research projects on archival preservation and access, arts and culture, economic security, educational access, LGBTQ and gender equity, immigration rights, public health and urban poverty. He played a hands-on role in the CSRC developing the largest archival and library holdings in its field, publishing more than 32 scholarly books that have earned 63 international book awards, and organizing public programs and exhibitions reaching more than 800,000 people. As CSRC director, Noriega established four endowed funds and oversaw the development of projects and programs in partnership with more than 150 community organizations, public institutions and universities/colleges. Under his leadership, the CSRC organized several exhibitions at prominent Los Angeles institutions during the Getty’s 2017 Pacific Standard Time LA/LA project, including Home: So Different, So Appealing at LACMA and La Raza, at the Autry Museum of the American West, which highlighted the photographic archive of this important local magazine from the late 1960s and 70s, which is held in the CSRC collection.
Given his previous leadership roles at UCLA and his knowledge and expertise in the campus, local and national arts community, I am confident that Professor Noriega will provide effective guidance and oversight for TFT students, staff and faculty and continue to be a valuable contributor to the overall arts ecosystem at UCLA.
Please join me in offering support and goodwill toward outgoing Dean Kite as he steps into his new leadership role at UCLA and in thanking Chon Noriega for taking on this leadership position at TFT.
Sincerely,
Darnell Hunt
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost