Laguna will miss college president

Suzie Harrison

The latest buzz around town isn’t reverberating good news, as Laguna

College of Art and Design President Alan Barkley has announced his

resignation.

Barkley will be leaving Laguna Beach in August to become the dean

of Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Connecticut.

He’s not one to talk about himself or strides he’s made at the

college in his seven years as its leader, preferring to keep the

focus on students.

Barkley gave examples of steps students and graduates have made,

citing their acceptances into esteemed graduate programs, hirings by

prestigious industry leaders in animation and exhibits at places such

as the Whitney Museum in New York.

“That’s the fun part, watching students develop talents and

blossom, seeing good students arriving and becoming better,” Barkley

said. “In the end, the efforts translate into good students becoming

better, successful and landing careers.”

During Barkley’s tenure, the number of students has nearly doubled

in size from 150 students the year before he started to around 300.

He credits this proliferation to the team approach by all involved

with the college.

The college focuses on making sure students receive the best

possible learning experience while enjoying all encounters there. All

the students are known by their first names.

“It’s a neat experience to be in this smaller community,” Barkley

said. “It’s like a family. The community in return supports the

college. We have a very dedicated board, great to work with, many

from Laguna Beach.”

He appreciates all the support Laguna has given the college and

its students. For its big fundraiser, 150 local artists donated their

artworks to be auctioned.

Councilman Wayne Baglin said Barkley came at an emotional time

when they were grief-stricken with the death of the college’s prior

president.

“Alan brought a total appreciation for art and a fantastic

business mind -- he just put it all together,” Baglin said. “He’s a

man with a very warm soul.”

Barkley doesn’t take these comments for granted. He said he finds

the support to be nearly as gratifying as his involvement with the

growth, reputation and quality of the college.

The college is set to launch a Masters of Fine Arts program in

representational art and figurative painting in the fall of 2005.

This type of master’s program is limited to only a few colleges in

the country, and there is nothing like it yet in California.

“Starting the animation program has always been a passion,”

Barkley said. “There is a strong emphasis on drawing -- drawing is

the backbone whether in pencil or on the computer.”

His work implementing the program was made even sweeter through

the help of Chuck Jones, professor emeritus, and his affiliation with

the college.

“He was just a wonderful man and a hero from forever,” Barkley

said. “It was a real highlight getting to know him and starting the

[animation] program.”

Barkley has been working to enhance the technological

infrastructure, which has been a lot of fun in the leafy, bladed

campus conservancy. It’s become a wireless campus, and other

high-tech improvements are being made to keep students on the cutting

edge.

“It’s been a wonderful seven years -- people here are warm and

welcoming,” Barkley said. “The talent is not just the students but

the people who work here. The college is in good hands.”

Before moving to Laguna Beach, Barkley held similar positions in

Canada and was president at the Ontario College of Art and Design and

the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver.

“Alan has carried the college forward for seven years -- it’s very

healthy and it makes everyone feel he’s done a wonderful job,” board

chair Shirley Rush said. “They are getting an absolute jewel. He has

helped in every way.”