Dr. Ursula M. Kuhar joined the faculty of the O'Neill School of Public and Environment Affairs in August 2016. She is the founding director of the O’Neill in Israel study abroad program, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in performing arts organizations, leadership and organizational behavior, community engagement, and arts education. Additionally, Kuhar regularly consults with arts organizations around the country focusing on strategic planning, artistic administration, and education and outreach.
Prior to her appointment at O’Neill, Kuhar was executive director of Washington Concert Opera and director and assistant professor of Arts Management at Sweet Briar College. An active music educator and mezzo-soprano, she has worked in the classroom as an educator and teaching artist with students of all ages, gives regular master classes and workshops at colleges and young artist programs around the country, has performed professionally throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe, and is a Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Regional Finalist. She frequently presents at conferences on topics ranging from arts policy, fund development, arts education and pedagogy, and community engagement.
Kuhar holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Arts Administration and a Master’s in Music Education from Butler University and a Doctor of Music in Voice from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Committed to service, Kuhar served as the inaugural co-chair of the Indiana Arts Homecoming, is the current Indiana Federal State Captain for the National Arts Action Summit, and is an active member of the Association of Arts Administration Educators and the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
