Portrait of Chuck O'Connor

Chuck O'Connor

Professor
MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television (now the School of Cinematic Arts)
BA in Theatre from California State University, Northridge

Chuck served as the dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts from 2012 through 2021. During Chuck’s tenure as dean, College enrollment grew 10.8%, credit-hour production increased by 13.4%, and the six-year graduation rate grew by 7.3%. The College led the University in diverse enrollments.

Chuck cares about giving students the education they need to have powerful working lives. Under Chuck's leadership, the College opened the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts in 2019, a $57 million investment made possible by a $20 million gift to the College from the Johnny Carson Foundation. Fundraising grew by $51 million, nearly all of it for student-focused activities. The College successfully cultivated nearly $100 million in upgraded and new arts facilities including a $75 million new music building currently under construction.

Chuck holds an MFA degree in Drama from the University of Southern California, and a BA in Theatre from California State University, Northridge.