Oklahoma Center for Arts Education Names New Director

October 4 , 2007

The Oklahoma Center for Arts Education, located within the College of Arts, Media & Design at the University of Central Oklahoma, has named Hayden Roberts as its new director.

Roberts comes to the Center from the Tennessee Arts Commission where he was the Director of Arts in Education.

For more than 10 years, he has been involved in projects that promote cultural conservation, arts integration, arts advocacy, and the development of better community support of the arts in schools.

“I grew up in Oklahoma and got to participate in great arts programs like Quartz Mountain,” Roberts said.

“I know the value and importance of arts education and want to see it
continue and grow in Oklahoma.”

Roberts holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Sarah Lawrence
College and a Master of Arts in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky
University. He is currently finishing his doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma in Cultural and Social Geography.

His experience includes developing and implementing educational
programs for museums and cultural groups like the Kentucky Museum, Oklahoma Folklife Council, Mammoth Cave National Park, Cherokee National Historical Society and the Oklahoma History Center.

“I’m really excited to be working for a university that has such a rich
educational background,” Roberts said.

“I want to be not only an advocate for the work of teachers in the classroom, but also to help develop more support for their efforts.”

Roberts is a member of the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Folklife Council, Oklahoma Museum Association, American Folklore Society,
and the Arts Education Partnership.

The Oklahoma Center for Arts Education was established in 2002 to recognize, cultivate, promote and strengthen arts education programs in Oklahoma schools and communities.

Page updated 10/4/07