The Louisiana Tech School of Performing Arts is pleased to announce that Mr. Mark Guinn has accepted the position as the new Director of the School of Performing Arts, starting August 1, 2012, pending final approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. Mr. Guinn received his MFA in 1989 from Memphis State University in Design and Technical Production, with emphasis in Lighting and Sound, and a BA in 1984 from Centre College of Kentucky in Dramatic Art. He is the current Acting Coordinator of Theatre, a Full Professor, and a member of the Graduate and Honors faculty. Mr. Guinn is also a Master Teacher for our Stage Combat Workshop and, most recently, was awarded Special Recognition for Creativity in Outreach and Media for the 2011 production of KAB Man by the national organization of Keep America Beautiful at their annual conference.

Dr. Ken Robbins, the current Director of the School of Performing Arts, will continue to stay on staff as a professor. He views this new change positively, saying “These are exciting times as Mark Guinn takes the School of the Performing Arts into new and exciting directions. The School's position within the College and University will be enhanced under his guidance.”

Paul B. Crook, Associate Professor of acting and directing, expresses the feelings of the entire department: “We are extremely excited about this new era for the School of Performing Arts. Mark has been an integral part of this program for 21 years and brings an invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience to the position which, coupled with his unmatched passion for fostering artistic growth, has us poised to reach new heights as we train the artists of tomorrow.”