Westminster College of the Arts names new dean

Matthew Shaftel, Ph.D., has been appointed dean for the Westminster College of the Arts, beginning July 1, 2015.

“Dr. Shaftel brings to our campus a proven history of academic success, musical excellence and administrative effectiveness,” said DonnaJean A. Fredeen, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “With his impressive background in music performance and theory, his tactful and participatory approach to change, his highly creative approach to problem solving and his affable nature, Dr. Shaftel has the demonstrated experience and qualities needed to continue the Rider and Westminster traditions of world-class musical, theatrical and artistic excellence.”

Shaftel comes to Rider from Florida State University, where he served in a number of progressively responsible roles including his most recent assignments as associate vice president for Academic Affairs, director of general education, and associate dean of undergraduate studies. While at Florida State, Shaftel was responsible for an aggressive agenda of transforming the undergraduate experience, reengaging faculty, supporting the entrepreneurial university and student career and graduate school success, revitalizing distance education, and ensuring effectiveness and efficiency.

Shaftel has been recognized numerous times for excellence in music and teaching. He was Florida State’s nominee for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s U.S. Professors of the Year program and a Distinguished Faculty Initiate at the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He received the 2013 Florida State University’s Distinguished University Teacher award, the highest teaching honor offered to faculty at Florida State, and the Outstanding Aural-Pedagogue Award from the Journal of Music Theory in 2013, among many other awards. He was also a Grammy Music Educator Award Quarter finalist in 2013.

Shaftel earned his bachelor’s degree in Music with educator certification, a master's degree in Music Theory and a doctorate in Music Theory, all from Yale University. His voice training included study at Yale, the Aspen Opera Theatre Center and the Tanglewood Music Center.

With a career that includes numerous published books, articles, invited articles and book chapters, Shaftel has also continued his research productivity while maintaining his administrative and teaching roles. In the last year alone, he published his most recent textbook, a new critical edition of select Webern piano works and two peer-reviewed articles. He also gave two national conference papers. 

In addition, he ran an international workshop at the Royal Conservatory of Music and signed a contract with the University of Illinois Press for an edited collection of essays on Cole Porter. Off campus, Dr. Shaftel served as director of the Asolo Song Festival and Institute for Song Interpretation in Italy and president of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras’ Board of Directors. He also has served for almost 20 years as a church music director, first in Connecticut and more recently, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tallahassee, Fla.

“I would like to thank Dr. Marshall Onofrio for his excellent work as interim dean,” said Fredeen. “Dr. Onofrio is treasured by our Westminster community, and with Dr. Shaftel joining us, Dr. Onofrio will return to his role as associate dean for administration in July.”