Dr. Julie Pretzat became dean in 2015 after serving as the school’s first associate dean. Previously she chaired Oswego’s music department and served as interim chair of theatre.  While a music professor, she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has organized and conducted hundreds of performances by community and college choral groups and has collaborated with college, community and professional choral, musical theater and opera groups throughout Central New York, and currently is artistic director of the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble. 

She has done extensive work at the college in accreditation, academic advisement and creating first-year seminar courses. She holds a bachelor’s from Smith College, a master of music from the University of Michigan and a doctor of musical arts from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.