<p>i have read that Cary Libkin is retiring this year. Has anyone heard who will be replacing him?</p>
<p>It has been narrowed down to the top 3-5 candidates, but they have not been made public. Supposedly, it is someone from academia. I’m sure the candidates would not want to be made public because they would not want premature questions raised about the status of their current programs should they leave to head PSU.</p>
<p>@weski2 – thanks for the update.</p>
Any idea when this will be known? Some rumors are flying and, unfortunately, may have an impact on where my D may want to go to school.
When we attended the audition in December, they said that they will have a candidate selected in the spring and they would start for the fall – Cary Libkin will have one semester in the fall as overlap with the new Director. According to conversations my daughter had with current students, students are involved in the process. Alas, though my daughter made the interview cut at her on campus audition, she was rejected a week later. Too bad, we really liked the program and the campus, but just not meant to be. BAL to your D!
I had heard they had interviewed the head of another prominent MT program. I hope they announce before May 1 as I think it could have a large bearing on choosing PSU or the other program if the director there leaves.
That seems nerve-wracking since so much of fit is based upon chemistry with the director and the faculty.
Exactly my concern. It is all about the relationships. Hope they move quickly.
Hey all- as a grad of the MT program and still heavily involved in the program and professors, I highly encourage you to talk to the current students! I think that new energy in the head position is EXCITING and they have done a VERY extensive search with a committee that is comprised of current faculty members, students, and other faculty outside the program. It is a search and decision that will be very carefully planned and executed- including cross over with Cary. I have absolute full faith that Penn State and the faculty, along with students input, will choose the best candidate! I, personally, am so excited to see who takes over for Cary and what new energy they bring to the position.
Hope this helps!
It would help most to know the identity of the chosen candidate. This really is not all about Penn State. If he or she is coming from another MT program, this could have an effect on the school and position vacated. Indeed it could have a domino effect in the MT college community as a whole. Not necessarily, but potentially. And I think it would be fair to all incoming MT students to have that information before April 1st when many MT students begin narrowing their choices and make their final college visits and selections.
A decision has been made within the last week or so. No names have been divulged but during the entire fall semester Cary will work with the new head before departing. They are saying that the program will be in “very good hands”.
They should announce if it is going to affect another program.
@Divamamacita Agree!
The reason they’re not, it seems, is because the replacement needs to contact his/her current employer and all that jazz. Hopefully, that all happens soon and they’ll make an official announcement.The kids involved in the selection committee definitely know who the replacement is but cannot say right now.
I would think at least some prospective students would be reluctant to accept an offer at Penn State until the new dept. head is revealed. From the above statement, it appears the school from which the new dept head is coming has little inkling of the move, and this could cause problems at that school. I am sure they all have considered this, but the bottom line here is that the students have a right to know under whom they will be studying for four years. So hoping the announcement comes very very soon.
Just remember that there are no guarantees that any MT student will study under the same dept. head all 4 years. Dept. heads and Staff change schools all the time and often with little notice. Cary is retiring, so people have been aware that there would be changes for quite some time now. However, often teachers and administrative personnel switch schools without much notice. We know a student who made her final selection for a theater program based on one highly regarded instructor. Shortly thereafter, that instructor announced she would start a 3 year sabbatical the next year. That student actually contacted her 2nd choice school who she had already turned down, and was fortunate to be allowed to change her decision. PSU’s MT program has amazing support staff and instructors and I’m sure have done a thorough search to find a suitable replacement for Carrie. I also suggest talking to current students to get their take on the program there.
@takeitallin You have a valid point. HOWEVER, we are talking the head of the program at PSU and possibly the head of another prominent program leaving to go to PSU. I think in all fairness (especially if they now know) it should be announced so that the current class of kids knows what is going on. Some of these relationships ARE very personal and it DOES make a difference.
It has been announced! I’m beaming to share that John Simpkins will be the new head of the MT program. Both alumna and current students are very excited 
As an alum of the program, we received a meet and greet party invitation hosted by very loving supporters of the MT program as well as Cary and his wife with the new head of the program, John. The MT program is one big family and we welcome him with open arms (and parties hehe)
Yay!!
And for those of you wondering about John Simpkins, my daughter, graduating from NYU Steinhardt where he is currently, loves him! And, as surmised above, it really caught them by surprise. In fact, I learned it here before anything had been announced at NYU. I’m afraid I don’t find that very politically correct, particularly since it looks like it was made public to Penn State alum 3 days ago, but there it is. Even though my daughter is graduating, she is very disappointed that he is leaving NYU. She loves the classes she has taken from him, and the musicals he has directed have been very top notch and impressive. Definitely Penn State’s gain!