Steve Carignan

Steve Carignan, Associate Dean and Instructor in Arts Administration is celebrating his Fourteenth year as Executive Director at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, is responsible for overseeing all operations at the Center. Steve also serves as Associate Dean for Outreach and Special Programs at the University of Northern Iowa, overseeing all events and events facilities on campus.  Prior to moving to Iowa, Steve was worked at the Maine Center for the Arts at the University of Maine for 14 years.  Steve is a leader and manager, a marketer, a fundraiser, and educator, a consultant, a husband and father of two fine young men.

Since arriving in Iowa 14 years ago, Steve has worked with the Iowa Arts Commission and served on multiple cultural and not for profit boards. For four years Steve served on the Iowa Public Radio executive board and also served a nine month stint as that organizations interim Executive Director

Steve Carignan received a bachelor's degree in History and a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Dickinson College and also a Master's degree in theatre from the University of Maine.  Steve was named a fellow of the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Center for Social Innovation in 2003 and received his PhD in Higher Education at Iowa State University in 2012.