James Haywood Rolling, Jr

School of Art / 1988
Syracuse, New York

Current Position, Organization:
Chair & Professor of Art Education, Syracuse University

Relevant Skills:

Higher Education; Non-profit Governance; Personnel Management; Communications; Financial Management; Public/Community Relations; Planning/Organizing; Leadership

Professional Qualifications:

James is currently a Dual Professor of Art Education and Teaching and Leadership in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education at Syracuse University, where he also serves as the Chair of Art Education. Recently an elected member of the Board of Directors and Executive/Finance Committee for the National Art Education Association (NAEA), James is the 2014 recipient of the National Higher Education Art Educator Award for outstanding service and achievement of national significance and is presently the Editor of Art Education, the official bi-monthly journal of the NAEA. James earned his MFA at Syracuse University and additional Masters and doctoral in education at Teachers College, Columbia University. James gained his first experience in higher education management and labor relations as the Director of Academic Administration for the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University from 1999 to 2003. To date, James is the author of several books, including Swarm Intelligence: What Nature Teaches Us About Shaping Creative Leadership (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), as well as over 25 peer-reviewed articles and papers, ten book chapters, and four encyclopedia entries on the arts, education, creativity and human identity.

Personal Statement:

I will bring the unique perspective to my service to the various stakeholders at The Cooper Union of not only being a first-generation college graduate myself, but having worked professionally with children and families as a New York State certified K-12 educator; having worked professionally in the nuts and bolts arena of higher education administration; and currently working alongside diverse faculty colleagues as a tenured, full Professor at a major research university. Looking back over my career, I recognize that it was my work teaching 3D Design and Sculpture over two consecutive years (1986-1988) to students attending Cooper Union’s Saturday Art Program that first helped me to understand the necessity of my career as an arts & design educator, serving as a catalyst in the midst of the mess of creative identities exploding into existence. Given that I would not be where I am today without the legacy of free tuition at Cooper Union, I would be honored to offer my time and energies as a Cooper Union Alumni Trustee at this critical juncture in the life of an institution that has so evidently helped to shape my life’s trajectory.

• I am committed to both the principles and efficacy of collaborative, creative problem-solving.
• I am a swift learner, an attentive listener, and a transparent, succinct communicator.
• I am indebted to The Cooper Union for shaping my career path, and I am eager to pay it forward