Dan Napolitano (he/him) serves as the founding director of the Art Force 5 program. The development of the AF5 program was made possible alongside a career working within higher education, with impact and contributions from hundreds of students and colleagues, and support from host institutions and grant sponsors.
During a 20+ year commitment to Alfred University in western New York, Dan served as the Chief Diversity Officer, Associate Dean of the School of Art and Design, and Director of Student Activities and Leadership. Dan has taught over 250 students through a “Community-based Art” course. Dan was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for excellence in the profession and the Abigail Allen Award for contributions to women’s rights & equity. From 2022-2024, Dan serve as the Chief of Staff to Provost Renee T. White at The New School.
In addition to Alfred University, supporters and grant sponsors have included the Unite Rochester Challenge (Gannett Publishing / Democrat and Chronicle), SUNY’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, New York State Art Teacher Association, MTV(U) and Marvel Comics, The NFL Network, and numerous museums, colleges, and K-12 partners. Dan strives to work in spaces of “unrealized potential and impact” designing partnerships for the common good.
Looking forward, Dan is forming partnerships in research and design specifically around the centennial of the Great Depression (1929) and eventual WPA Federal Arts One project (1935) in fine arts, music, theater, writing, and cultural archiving. This initiative will be cross-disciplinary, and welcome partners from colleges, K-12, museums, archives, government agencies and others interested in exploring possibilities.
When not mentoring a student team, Dan is available for individual workshop presentations and consulting for designing your own community-based initiative. Dan received his BFA with a concentration in Art Education from the New York State College of Ceramics and his M.Ed from Alfred University’s College Student Development graduate program. Dan can be found on LinkedIn and by emailing DanNap.AF5@gmail.com