Rosita Sands

 

 

 

Rosita Sands
Dean, School of Fine and Performing Arts
1014 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
rsands@colum.edu
312-369-6286

 

Rosita Sands, EdD, is the dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts. She has served Columbia for 18 years in numerous leadership roles, including as chair of the Music Department since 2016. She first joined the college in 2000 as associate director of the Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) before advancing to executive director of the CBMR and its remote research site, the Adams Music Research Institute located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2007, Sands accepted a faculty position in the Music Department and later served in administrative roles as associate chair and interim chair, prior to becoming chair in 2016. As chair, Sands has provided leadership and support to faculty during a time of curriculum development and transformation. She is recognized among her colleagues for her vision and ability to foster constructive discussion that reinforces the department’s focus on strengthening curricula, so that all students are more broadly prepared as modern-day musicians.