Laurie Baefsky

Laurie Baefsky is the newly appointed Associate Dean for Research, Collaboration and Innovation in the College of Arts & Media at the University of Colorado Denver. As the first college in Colorado devoted exclusively to arts and entertainment, the College of Arts & Media is one of the few public institutions nationally, with program and curricula that includes 3D and Digital Animation, Digital Design, Music Business, Singer/Song Writing, Recording Arts, Film & TV and other areas that are central to the creative industries. Several of these programs have achieved national ranking and prominence.
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She has developed and led arts integrated educational initiatives for over 15 years. As executive director of ArtsEngine and the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) housed at the University of Michigan, she works locally and nationally to support and strengthen arts and transdisciplinary arts endeavors in higher education. She is currently PI on a three-year Mellon Foundation-supported research initiative, SPARC — Supporting Practice in the Arts, Research and Curricula.

Laurie joined ArtsEngine and a2ru in August 2014, having previously served as grants manager for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums in Salt Lake City, where she oversaw the annual distribution of $1.3 million in state and federal funding for individuals, organizations, communities and educators. A skilled grant writer herself, her efforts have resulted in over $5.3 million in arts funding through grants from federal, state and private sources.

From 2007-11 Dr. Baefsky established the USU ArtsBridge program at Utah State University, connecting university students with area schools and community organizations through arts-based interdisciplinary engaged learning initiatives. During this time she also directed professional development efforts for northern Utah schools under the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program, working with this state-funded interdisciplinary public schools initiative as lead coordinator of professional development for Utah’s northern region schools.

She is an advocate for creative placemaking and creative venture, having worked as a creative consultant with the Virginia Arts Festival to secure national support and build capacity for community revitalization efforts through the arts in southeastern Virginia. Laurie currently serves as a member of the committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the Integration of STEM, Humanities and Arts. Locally in southeastern Michigan she is on the board of trustees for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, and member of the Cultural Leaders Forum of the Ann Arbor Arts Alliance.

An active performer and arts educator, Laurie has appeared on flute and piccolo with the Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Symphony, New World Symphony, and as a tenured member of the Virginia Symphony for many years. As a chamber artist, her performances have ranged from Symphony Space and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, NYC to northeastern Morocco and Umbria, Italy. Laurie previously taught music and interdisciplinary courses for eight summers at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts at University of Richmond and served as applied music faculty at multiple colleges and universities throughout southeastern Virginia.

Laurie completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in flute performance at Stony Brook University in New York and received her Master of Music degree from University of Michigan. A native of Los Angeles, she received her Bachelor of Music in flute performance from California State University, Fullerton. Laurie pursues interests in Baroque performance practice, contemporary music & arts collaborations, organic gardening, and cross-country skiing.