VALDOSTA — If you’ve lived in Valdosta over the past 23 years, the name Michael Schmidt should ring a bell. On July 1, Schmidt stepped down as Valdosta State University’s Dean of the College of the Arts to pursue a new adventure as Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University. While he and his wife Nancy will travel 2,052 miles to their new destination, the pair are no strangers to big moves.
Schmidt obtained his Masters from Edinboro in 2001 and was led to Valdosta by a faculty position that June. During his time at VSU, Schmidt has spent 12 years as an Art & Design faculty member, four years as Art & Design Department Head and six years as Associate of the Dean for the College of the Arts. He will finish his current Interim Dean and Dean roles just shy of two years.
In the office, he frequently jokes, “There have been deans before me and there will be deans after me.” While that may be true, there is only one Michael Schmidt.
At some point in their lives, everyone faces the question: What made you into the person you are today? Schmidt credits who he is to an admirable upbringing and a background in the arts.
“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my parents of course and my background as a visual artist, sculptor, ceramicist and graphic designer,” he said.
Schmidt also acknowledged his mentors from Wisconsin’s UW Whitewater and Pennsylvania’s Edinboro University for inspiring his pursuit of faculty work. In fact, he still uses his very first ceramics piece from Karl Borgeson that has “held countless servings of ice cream and popcorn over the last 30 years.”
Reflecting on VSU, Schmidt stated, “It really is a special place. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have been here, and I can’t say thank you enough.”
Paying homage to schools in rural parts of states like VSU and those he attended as a student, Schmidt expressed the necessity of these institutions for students in the arts because smaller regional comprehensive institutions prioritize teaching and student-mentor relationships. According to Schmidt, “Schools like VSU are transformative — they take the students that are otherwise overlooked and really transform them.”
Growing up with community-centric parents, Schmidt has always treasured public involvement. Schmidt has been a part of the Empty Bowls project in every community he has lived in as an artist, and in his time in Valdosta, has continued a legacy of “giving back” by working alongside VSU students, faculty and staff in educating the public on handmade art, raising student funds and pushing philanthropic activities. Schmidt’s Australian shepherds, Harley (10 years old) and Tessa (5 years old), are also notable community members. Harley was adopted through Canine Disconnected Dogs at the Azalea Festival years ago, and just this year, Tessa performed an entire Frisbee show.
When asked what advice he’d like to give students, leaders and community members, Schmidt shared the following tips from his favorite Bear Grylls survival podcast: Don’t panic, be resourceful and don’t give up.