James Frazier
Dean, College of Fine Arts
Florida State University

Dr. James Frazieris Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Florida State University (FSU). He serves on the Board of the American Dance Festival (ADF) and is a Visiting Evaluator on behalf of the National Association of Schools of Dance. Prior to his recent appointment at FSU, Frazier spent 18 years at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he held the positions of Interim Dean and of Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Affairs, as well as that of Chair of Dance and Choreography.

Dr. Frazier’s past appointments also include: Co-dean of the ADF, housed on the campus of Duke University; Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance History, Florida State University; Associate Artistic Director, Dance Institute of Washington (District of Columbia); and Publicity Coordinator for the Urban Bush Women Summer Dance Institute; and several adjunct teaching appointments as a dance instructor at Florida A & M University, Florida State University, Temple University and Montgomery College (MD). Significant past service includes holding the elected offices of President and of Secretary of the Council of Dance Administrators, and elected board membership of the American College Dance Association; and serving as Co-chair of the Diversity Task Force of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans. 

As a professional dance artist, Frazier performed and toured nationally and internationally. He’s enjoyed engagements at Jacob’s Pillow, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Dance Place, The Publick Playhouse [sic], Philadelphia’s Prince Music Theater, The Joyce (SoHo-NYC) and more. His own choreography has been presented at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center (Concert Hall and Millennium Stage), at The National Museum and at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. He is a past recipient of the Virginia Commission for the Arts Choreographic Fellowship and in 2009 he created a commissioned work on the Richmond Ballet Company.

Frazier earned an Ed.D. in Dance from Temple University and both an M.F.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Marketing from Florida State University. He received the 2006 Alma Hawkins Award for Excellence in Dance Education for emerging leadership in the field by the Council of Dance Administrators and he was made a 2008 Fellow in the mentoring program of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans.