Jose Bowen, who has been instrumental in building Georgetown’s developing performing arts programs as the Caestecker Chair of Music, has been named the dean of the School of Fine Arts at the Miami University of Ohio, effective July 1.

Bowen helped oversee the creation of the Program in Performing Art, which merged the academic and co-curricular components of the music and theater departments on campus last summer, and has led the university to recruit new tenure-track faculty in the music department.

Bowen said that while he had not been searching for a new position, he said that Miami University’s faculty and resources in the fine arts led him to accept the appointment, which is subject to approval by Miami’s board of trustees.

“It’s a trade up in many ways,” Bowen said. “It’s the opportunity to play on a bigger stage. They have 100-plus faculty, several concert halls, a whole range of activities.”

Bowen called the decision “very, very hard” and praised Georgetown’s faculty and students.

“What I will miss most are the absolutely spectacular faculty colleagues I’ve had. They’re not just smart. They’re really wonderful people,” he said, “The students, too, are very, very fine.”

Ron Lignelli, the director of the Program in Performing Art, said that Bowen had helped put Georgetown on the map as the only university that focused most of its resources on American music.

“It’s very unique,” Lignelli said. “He’s been the one responsible for putting the music program on the map.”

Georgetown’s close proximity to the embassies and cultural attractions of Washington, D.C., offered unique programming that Bowen said he would miss, but added that he will enjoy moving to a university where more students have a primary interest in music.

“It was joy and sometimes also frustration bringing music to non-music students. There are just not as many musicians here, so it’s a double-edged sword,” he said.

Bowen said that bringing Bobby McFerrin to the university last fall, helping build the Program for Performing Art and hosting Dave Brubeck in fall 2001 were some of his proudest moments at the university.

Lignelli said that Bowen’s recruitment of two tenure-track faculty in music will help keep the program moving forward. He also cited the Friday Music Series and a lease program with Yamaha that brings new pianos to Georgetown as among Bowen’s accomplishments as the director of the program.

“His energy and commitment are second to none, it’s irreplaceable,” he said.

In 1994 Bowen founded and directed the Centre for History and Analysis of Recorded Music at the University of Southampton. He also taught at Stanford University, first as director of jazz ensembles and then in program in the humanities and Afro-American studies. In 1985 Bowen wrote a symphony that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music.

Bowen will replace Pamela Fox, who was named president of Mary Baldwin College last spring.