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First Impressions: LSU’s Todd Queen

  • By Jennifer Tormo Alvarez
Photo courtesy Todd Queen

Just shy of his one-year anniversary in town, LSU’s Music & Dramatic Arts dean shares his thoughts on Baton Rouge

Age: 44
Occupation: Dean of LSU’s College of Music & Dramatic Arts
Previous residence: Fort Collins, Colorado, where he was chair of the department of music, theatre and dance at Colorado State University
Moved here: July 2014

Todd Queen has been working hard to innovate LSU’s approach to the performing arts since his arrival last summer, focusing on unifying the college’s faculty and offering a more technology-focused curriculum to the millennial student.

Queen, whose background is in music education and opera performance, has directed more than 50 musical productions over his career and has traveled to cities as varied as Shanghai and Sacramento as an educator and performer. Though he’s only been in town for 10 months, it hasn’t taken him long to figure out that there’s only one place to spend a Saturday in Baton Rouge.

What brought you to Baton Rouge?
I accepted the position of dean of the College of Music & Dramatic Arts at LSU. My wife is from Pearl River, Louisiana, and I was also attracted to the culture, the food and the people.

What did you think of the city before you moved here?
I knew it was a college town, and that there was great food.

What’s your impression of the city so far?
I was right—I love the flavor and variety of food here. The city is much larger than I expected. And the traffic is everything that I had heard it would be.

Favorite local restaurant?
The Chimes.

What has surprised you most about Baton Rouge?
I think overall the size of the city and the variety of shopping and things to do around town.

What’s a typical day like for the dean of LSU’s College of Music & Dramatic Arts?
Meeting with staff to see if we are executing well, lunch with patrons and donors and a concert in the evening.

What are your goals for the future of the college?
We are working on a new curriculum that addresses the needs of the 21st-century artist. It has been very exciting work. I believe a more modern curriculum will train students to be more flexible and adaptable. We need to spend more time on business skills and how those skills can translate into multiple options for a career in the arts.

With those goals in mind, how do you plan to handle looming budget cuts?
I’m going to have faith that the state legislature will work it out.

What’s the best part of the LSU campus lifestyle?
I love walking around campus and taking in the history and beauty.

Best way to spend a Saturday in Baton Rouge?
At Tiger Stadium, of course!


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