Barton Lee

Senior Associate Dean: Professor Barton Lee has been a member of the faculty at the University of South Florida, College of The Arts, since 1982. He joined the faculty in the School of Theatre & Dance as a theatre designer and technical director. Prior to joining USF, Professor Lee was on the theatre faculty at SUNY-Fredonia for four years and served as the master electrician and technical director for three summers at the Chautauqua Institution in New York with the Chautauqua Opera Company and as a part of the IATSE professional staff for the Chautauqua summer residency of Cleveland Playhouse. 

Beginning in 1991, Professor Lee served in various administrative roles at USF in the Theatre Department and was the first Director for the School of Theatre & Dance. Starting in 2003 he served as Associate Dean and Coordinator of Performing Arts for the College of Fine Arts while also serving as Interim Director for the School of Architecture & Community Design in 2008-09. In 2011-12 he served as Interim Dean and since 2012 has served as the Senior Associate Dean for the College. Currently Professor Lee is serving as the Acting Dean for the USF’s College of The Arts in a transitional period of the college leadership. 

Professor Lee completed his Masters at West Virginia University, College of Creative Arts – Division of Theatre, and maintains professional membership in the United Scenic Artists, USA 829-scenic design category, and as a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, IATSE – Local 321. He has served as a theatre consultant on several new construction and renovations projects in the Tampa Bay area. In 2003 he was honored by the Florida Theatre Conference with the Distinguished Career Award in College/University Theatre. He has been a member of and served as President with Florida Higher Education Arts Network and is a member of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans.