The College of Arts and Science has named Cathleen Fleck as Mizzou’s next Director of the School of Visual Studies (SVS). As an art historian focused on the medieval Mediterranean, Fleck will also hold a courtesy appointment in the department of Classics, Archaeology, and Religion.  

Fleck comes to Mizzou from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Saint Louis University (SLU), where she served as chair since 2019. At SLU, Fleck led the department’s strategic planning efforts, managed accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and championed improvements in curricula and in promotion and tenure guidelines. Additionally, she successfully partnered with donors to invest in space and equipment enhancements and built connections with the regional arts community through events and communications. 

“I am thrilled to join the School of Visual Studies at Mizzou,” said Fleck. “It is an honor to be selected to lead and support SVS and its wonderful faculty, students, and staff” 

Fleck will replace Lee Ann Garrison, who has served as Director of the School of Visual Studies since August 2019.  

“As we welcome a new leader,” said Cooper Drury, Dean of the College of Arts and Science, “I want to thank Lee Ann Garrison for providing such a seamless transition to her successor.”   

Fleck’s appointment as director begins July 21, 2025. 

“I am impressed with the rich programs in SVS,” said Fleck, “and I look forward to helping grow students' visual and artistic capacities while fostering their creativity and expression — all of which will have meaningful roles in their future lives.”