The Conservatory has announced the appointment of Kate Sheeran as Provost and Dean. Currently Assistant Dean at Mannes School of Music of The New School, Sheeran takes up her new position on July 1, succeeding Robert Fitzpatrick who retires from the Conservatory after ably serving in an interim capacity since January 2014.

President David H. Stull called Sheeran an excellent fit for the Conservatory’s chief academic office. "She is a tremendous advocate for young artists, and her experience as an innovative leader, performer and teacher make her an outstanding choice for SFCM. Kate will play a critical role in executing the Conservatory's strategic plan to pioneer a new standard of conservatory education, one which provides a transformative experience for our students and prepares them for a lifetime of success."

As Provost and Dean, Sheeran will oversee all aspects of the Conservatory’s academic program, lead and build the faculty, implement changes to the curriculum, assess student academic achievement and ensure SFCM continues to meet standards for accreditation. She will also seek to attract students of the highest caliber to the school.

As an Assistant Dean at the Mannes School of Music, Sheeran directed the school’s preparatory and continuing education programs, overseeing more than 100 faculty and serving more than 700 students. She modernized curricula, introduced a robust series of visiting guest artists, overhauled Mannes’ adult learning offerings and developed Mannes Next, a forward-thinking continuing education program that awards certificates and diplomas. She also launched two new minors for matriculating Mannes students, Post-Genre Music and Composition. A professional hornist and accomplished educator, Sheeran has performed with such cutting-edge ensembles as the Wordless Music Orchestra and Alarm Will Sound and served on the horn faculty at Mannes Prep, Dickinson College, Susquehanna University and Bucknell University. She earned a B.M., Performer's Certificate and Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music and an M.M. from the Yale School of Music.