I am deeply saddened to inform you that Liberal Arts and Design & Production faculty member Dr. Dave Olson died suddenly on Friday at home. 

Dave had been a faculty member at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) for the past 16 years. He joined the UNCSA family in the Design & Production M.F.A. program of Performance Art Management in 2004, where he was the director from 2011-15. In 2016, he transitioned to the Division of Liberal Arts offering arts management, entrepreneurship and personal finance courses. In 2018, he developed the first minor offered at UNCSA in arts entrepreneurship and worked as the program coordinator. He was a faculty adviser for the Chancellor’s Artpreneur Grant Program starting in 2017 and the program adviser for the Wake Forest University School of Business Partnership beginning in 2018.

During his extensive teaching career, Dave was also a faculty member at Salem College, Bennett College for Women, Wake Forest University, Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of St. Thomas.

Dave’s organizational impact was felt across the campus. He chaired the UNCSA Strategic Planning Committee from 2013-15, served as the general manager for the annual production of “The Nutcracker” from 2015-17, and was the general manager for the UNCSA all-school production of “Guys and Dolls” in 2015.

His commitment to the arts in the Winston-Salem community and beyond was equally as strong. He was a member of the board of directors of the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, and served as an investor in six Broadway shows.

Dave brought his energy and passion to the classroom after a career of more than 20 years as a professional practitioner, professional administrator and a licensed CPA in the fields of arts management. He earned his Ed.D. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., in organization development, his MBA from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in accounting from Luther College.

In addition to being an engaging teacher, Dave often went above and beyond in his work with students, advising them on such things as taxes, investments and business formation. His openness, sense of humor, unwavering commitment to his students and generosity as a colleague will be deeply missed.

We understand that grief can be difficult to bear. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Counselors are available to students through our Counseling Center. The after-hours Healthlink number is 1-888-267-3675. Faculty and staff may access the state’s 24/7 Employee Assistance Program administered by ComPysch by calling 888-311-4237.

We are all sharing in grief over the loss of Dave Olson from our tight-knit community. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole, Chancellor, University of North Carolina School of the Arts