CalArts Presidents

In 1968, Robert W. Corrigan, then dean of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, became the inaugural president of the newly established California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). With a vision of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and radical innovation, Corrigan and the first provost, Herbert Blau, assembled a high-powered faculty by recruiting some of the most unorthodox and influential voices in the arts. This groundbreaking faculty included now-iconic figures such as artists Allan Kaprow, John Baldessari, and Nam June Paik; composers Mel Powell and Morton Subotnick; sitar master Ravi Shankar; ethnomusicologist Nicholas England; designers Peter and Sheila DeBretteville; choreographer Bella Lewitzky; director Alexander Mackendrick; film scholar Gene Youngblood; experimental filmmaker Pat O’Neill; and animation artist Jules Engel. Corrigan’s pioneering leadership laid the foundation for CalArts’ enduring reputation as a leading force in artistic education and experimentation.

After Corrigan’s departure in 1975, Robert J. Fitzpatrick, a professor of medieval French literature and former dean of students at Johns Hopkins University, was appointed president of CalArts. Fitzpatrick brought a unique academic and administrative perspective to the institute. During his tenure, the CalArts Character Animation program blossomed, with future animation legends Jerry Rees and John Lasseter being the first two students accepted into the program. In 1983, the acclaimed CalArts Jazz Program was founded by bassist Charlie Haden, of Ornette Coleman Quartet fame, and pianist David Roitstein. Under Fitzpatrick’s leadership, CalArts continued to expand its influence in the fields of animation and music, establishing itself as a global leader in artistic training and innovation.

After Fitzpatrick left to head Euro Disney in Paris, Steven D. Lavine, associate director for arts and humanities at the Rockefeller Foundation, assumed the presidency of CalArts in 1988. Lavine’s leadership was marked by significant institutional developments, including the launch of the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) in 1990, a groundbreaking program that connected CalArts with underserved communities. He also guided the Institute through the challenges of the 1994 Northridge earthquake and spearheaded the campaign to build the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), a major cultural venue in downtown Los Angeles. Lavine’s tenure solidified CalArts’ growth, resilience, and expanded its role as a prominent institution for both artists and the broader community.

Ravi Rajan became the fourth president of CalArts in 2017. A seasoned arts administrator, Rajan previously served as dean of the School of the Arts at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase, where he championed interdisciplinary education and diversity in the arts. As CalArts’ first president of South Asian descent, Rajan has focused on expanding the Institute’s reach, strengthening its commitment to equity and inclusion, and fostering innovation across all disciplines. Under his leadership, CalArts has continued to build on its legacy of artistic experimentation while evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st-century creative landscape. In 2024, under his leadership, CalArts began a long-term affiliation with the Vermont College of Fine Arts with its low-residencies taking place on CalArts campus in early 2025. Rajan’s tenure marks a new chapter of growth and engagement for the Institute, reaffirming its role as a global leader in arts education.