Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

James Haywood Rolling Jr. Appointed VPA’s Inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Friday, September 21, 2018, By Erica Blust
Share
College of Visual and Performing ArtsDiversity and Inclusion
James Haywood Rolling Jr.

James Haywood Rolling Jr.

James Haywood Rolling Jr., dual professor of art education and teaching and leadership in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and the School of Education and the chair of art education, has been appointed VPA’s inaugural director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

In this new role, Rolling will lead VPA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives in conjunction with the University’s chief diversity officer; establish and lead a college-wide committee with faculty, staff and students to facilitate projects, programming and other action items deemed necessary and appropriate to promote a more inclusive environment; collaborate as necessary with VPA’s leadership by attending Academic and Staff Council meetings as scheduled; and develop and assess outcomes to determine effectiveness and return on investment.

“Professor Rolling is considered a national leader in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, especially with his work on behalf of the National Art Education Association, where he has served on their executive board and currently serves on their new task force on equity, diversity and inclusion,” says VPA Dean Michael S. Tick. “VPA is fortunate to have Professor Rolling in this important position, for he is a noted scholar, a gifted teacher and is committed to helping us lead the efforts to change the campus climate.”

“I am excited to have been appointed by Dean Tick to support the commitment of my VPA colleagues toward the common goal of greater diversity, equity and inclusion at Syracuse University,” says Rolling. “One of the great satisfactions of leadership is in helping one another achieve collective goals we cannot fully attain as individuals. I look forward to beginning this work.”

Rolling is a past member of the board of directors of the National Art Education Association (NAEA), serving as higher education division director from 2011-13. He is the 2014 recipient of the National Higher Education Art Educator Award for outstanding service and achievement of national significance and just completed a three-year term (2015-17) as senior editor of Art Education, the bimonthly journal of NAEA.

Rolling has written grant project proposals garnering more than $2 million of external funding since 2014. He is the founder of the 4A Arts & Creative Literacies Academy, a college-community partnership between Syracuse University Art Education and Dr. Edwin E. Weeks Elementary School. 4A Academy features a cross-disciplinary STEAM education instructional format exploring the arts and sciences and serving more than 800 students in grades K-5 daily.

Rolling has been a commissioner-at-large on the NAEA Research Commission since 2014 and is its newly elected associate chair. He is also the author of “Swarm Intelligence: What Nature Teaches Us About Shaping Creative Leadership” (St. Martin’s Press), a surprising look at the social origins of creativity, and the “Arts-Based Research Primer” (Peter Lang Inc.), both published in 2013.

Rolling earned an M.F.A. in studio arts research at Syracuse University and a B.F.A. at the Cooper Union School of Art. Looking back over the arc of his career from elementary school art teacher to teacher educator, Rolling cites his work teaching 3D design and sculpture over two consecutive years to high school students enrolled in Cooper Union’s Saturday Art Program as his genesis for understanding the necessity of an art and design education in the present age—providing a catalyst for diverse and creative identities exploding into existence.

  • Author

Erica Blust

  • Recent
  • Arts and Sciences Hosts Inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala
    Friday, May 9, 2025, By Sean Grogan
  • Chancellor Kent Syverud Honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year at 57th Annual ScoutPower Event
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By News Staff
  • New Maymester Program Allows Student-Athletes to Develop ‘Democracy Playbook’
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • From Policy to Practice: How AI is Shaping the Future of Education
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Christopher Munoz
  • Kohn, Wiklund, Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professors
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Campus & Community

Arts and Sciences Hosts Inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala

The College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) kicked off a new tradition for recognizing A&S faculty excellence and achievements from over the past year with its inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala. The May 1 event was held in the Schine…

Chancellor Kent Syverud Honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year at 57th Annual ScoutPower Event

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud was recognized by Scouting America, Longhouse Council, as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the organization’s 57th annual ScoutPower dinner. The annual fundraiser is one of the biggest scouting events in the nation and…

Kohn, Wiklund, Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professors

Three Syracuse University faculty members have been named Distinguished Professors, one of the University’s highest honors. The designation is granted by the Board of Trustees to faculty who have achieved exceptionally distinguished stature in their academic specialties. The newly named…

Syracuse Athletics Records Highest APR Score in 4 Years

Syracuse University Athletics continues to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence, as shown in the latest release of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Academic Progress (APR) data. The University earned a single-year score of 989 (out of 1,000) for the…

SOURCE Enables School of Education Undergraduates to Research, Explore Profession

Through a research project funded by the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), School of Education (SOE) seniors Denaysha Macklin ’25 and Emma Wareing ’25 are continuing research to investigate barriers women of color face in advancing…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.