David Humphrey

David Humphrey came to Southern Oregon University in the summer of 2012 to head up the Performing Arts Department and since developed the new Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU which he currently serves as Director   This new institution combines the performing arts, the visual arts and creative writing into one division and it includes the Schneider Museum of Art, ShakespeareAMERICA, Oregon Arts Medallion and partnerships with many arts organizations locally and around the state.  

Previously he served as Director of the San Francisco based Museum of Performance + Design, a nonprofit institution containing over 3.5 million items of performing arts archival materials, that presents exhibitions, performances, and lectures.  Before this Dr. Humphrey served as Vice President for Education at the new California Center for the Arts in San Diego, Director of the Education Program at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and Dean of the Florida School of the Arts. 

In addition Dr. Humphrey has a production company and for 25 years produced for The White House a show at The Kennedy Center featuring the Presidential Scholars in the Performing Arts.  In addition he has produced and directed performances with such noted artists as Sharon Stone, Tony Kushner, Carly Simon, Diana Ross, Alvin Nicholais, Joel Gray, Frederica von Stade, Carol Channing, Doc Severinsen, Tyne Daly, Cyd Charisse, Richard Thomas, Chita Rivera, Debra Messing and many more.  He received his Ph.D. in Opera Production and Music Education from Florida State University.