Brian Kite Appointed Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at UCLA

Brian Kite, an award-winning theater director and Professor of Directing, has been appointed as the new Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at UCLA. He is expected to assume the new role on or before February 1, 2025. This appointment marks a significant step in Kite's already illustrious career at UCLA, where he has demonstrated transformative leadership and a deep commitment to advancing academic excellence.

A Seasoned Leader in Academia and the Arts

Brian Kite's background is uniquely positioned at the intersection of academia and the performing arts. He has been a Professor of Directing at UCLA since 2015. Kite most recently served as dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT), where he previously served as interim dean, special academic senior associate dean and chair of the Department of Theater. Before joining UCLA, he was the Producing Artistic Director of La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, where he directed numerous acclaimed productions.

Accomplishments at the School of Theater, Film, and Television

During his tenure as Dean of the School of Theater, Film, and Television (TFT), Kite spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the student experience and fostering a more inclusive academic environment. Under Dean Kite's leadership, TFT has seen significant advancements, including strategic initiatives to enhance the school's inclusive environment. His commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming atmosphere has been a key focus, alongside infrastructural improvements and curriculum reforms. He guided the school through the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded a strategic planning process, modernized administrative systems, and secured funding for infrastructure and student success programs.

Kite worked closely with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to introduce innovations to the school’s curriculum and to strengthen its ties to the entertainment industry and other schools and units across campus. He also drove focused fundraising initiatives that secured significant resources for infrastructure improvements, student support, and the creation of a new endowed faculty chair to enhance academic excellence.

Contributions to UCLA and Beyond

On UCLA’s campus, Kite has been an active member of numerous committees and working groups, among them the Chancellor’s Council on the Arts, the Faculty Forward Initiative Committee, the Enrollment Planning Committee, the Professional School Deans Council and the UCLA Graduate Council, which is responsible for policies related to graduate education. Dean Kite is a chair emeritus of the Board of Governors of the LA Stage Alliance and holds an appointment as a visiting professor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

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A Vision for Graduate Education

Kite expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “Graduate education at UCLA is rooted in a tradition of excellence and innovation, and I am thrilled to contribute to that legacy.” As Dean and Vice Provost, Kite will provide academic leadership for program development, planning, and decision-making within the Division of Graduate Education.

Responsibilities and Priorities

In his new capacity, Kite will work directly with the Division of Graduate Education Leadership Team, including Assistant Deans and Directors, to oversee critical areas such as:

Admissions
Academic Services
Financial Support
External Relations
Budgets
Information Technology

The Dean and Vice Provost along with the Associate Deans provide academic leadership for program development, planning, and decision making in the Division of Graduate Education. Graduate Deans work directly with Division of Graduate Education Leadership Team (Assistant Deans and Directors) within UCLA’s Division of Graduate Education to oversee admissions, academic services, financial support, external relations, budgets, and information technology.

The Division of Graduate Education: Supporting Students and Faculty

The Division of Graduate Education plays a crucial role in supporting graduate students throughout their academic journey. As one of the world’s top public research universities, UCLA offers more than 130 graduate and professional programs across every discipline. Supporting you throughout is the Division of Graduate Education. We’re here to help-from admissions and funding to academic milestones and professional development. We work closely with departments and faculty to ensure you have the resources you need to succeed. If you’re a prospective student, we can help you navigate admissions, explore funding options, and find your academic home.

The Division is committed to fostering a culture of care, equity, and excellence. Looking ahead, the Division is focused on advancing excellence, access, and opportunity. We’re investing in inclusive mentorship, student well-being, interdisciplinary research, and career development.

Acknowledging Previous Leadership

The appointment of Brian Kite follows the dedicated service of Susan Ettner, who served as Dean of Graduate Education since July 2021, preceded by a year as interim dean and three years as associate dean in the Division of Graduate Education.

A Distinguished Career in Directing

Brian Kite's career extends beyond academia to include significant achievements in theater direction. Kite is an acclaimed director known for his work in live theater across the United States and internationally. As a director, Kite has helmed productions at major regional theaters, festivals, and touring companies, earning recognition for his dynamic and visually compelling storytelling.

Accolades and Recognition

His directing work has garnered awards and critical acclaim for productions such as American Idiot, Billy Elliot, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, and Dinner With Friends, among others. His direction has featured celebrated actors, including Cathy Rigby in Steel Magnolias and Michael Learned in Driving Miss Daisy.

Kite’s achievements in musical theater include receiving the Joel Hirschhorn Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and an Ovation Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Spring Awakening. He was also nominated for his direction of Les Misérables and American Idiot.

International Recognition

Notably, he also directed the first American play ever performed at China’s prestigious National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Recent projects include directing the premiere of the musical Irena in Poznań and Warsaw, Poland, and Cabaret in Bermuda under the patronage of the Queen’s Governor.

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Contributions to Arts Organizations

Beyond directing, Kite has played a vital role in arts organizations, serving as chair emeritus of the L.A. Stage Alliance Board of Governors and artistic director of the Buffalo Nights Theatre Company.

Associate Deans and Key Initiatives

The Division of Graduate Education is supported by a team of dedicated Associate Deans who oversee specific areas of focus.

Associate Dean López: Recruitment, Outreach, and Admissions

Associate Dean López works with the Recruitment, Outreach and Admissions (ROA) unit, focusing on recruitment and outreach, holistic admissions initiatives, pathway programs and other initiatives to support students from underrepresented groups, including the UC-HBCU and UC-HSI initiatives and Competitive Edge. She consults on admissions policy and serves as the Division of Graduate Education’s Equity Advisor and as the liaison to the Graduate Council’s Fellowships and Assistantships Committee.

Associate Dean Lux: Academic and Postdoctoral Services

Associate Dean Lux works with the Academic and Postdoctoral Services (APS) unit, focusing on postdoctoral scholars, visiting graduate researchers, and international agreements. She is the Principal Investigator on the NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant, consults on ASE and fellowships policy and serves as the Division of Graduate Education’s liaison to the Graduate Council’s Committee on Degree Programs.

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