Butler University announced today a $1.1 million estate commitment to the Jordan College of the Arts (JCA) from Ronald Caltabiano, who served as Dean of JCA from 2011-2016. The gift will create a discretionary endowed fund for the dean to support innovative and experiential arts initiatives and other top academic priorities within the College, further accelerating the University’s strategic momentum in innovative arts education.
The announcement comes weeks after Butler announced the first documented endowed faculty position in JCA. And, earlier this month, Butler broke ground on its Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom, the newest venue in the University’s Midtown Arts District. Together, these milestones represent more than $12 million of philanthropic investment in the University’s transformational Boldly Butler strategy and $325 million campaign.
“Ron’s tenure as dean of JCA was truly impactful,” current Dean of JCA Lisa Brooks said. “He oversaw the completion and opening of the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, and ensured that this marvelous venue was designated as the primary performance space for JCA presentations across all disciplines. Ron also created ArtsFest, an annual themed festival that laid the groundwork for our current JCA Signature Series by underscoring the importance of annual guest artist residencies, recognizing the extraordinary impact these close encounters with internationally acclaimed artists have on our current students. We are humbled by Ron’s generosity, which will support our efforts to maintain the relevance of our arts programs in perpetuity.”
During his time as Dean of JCA, Caltabiano says he was inspired by the faculty’s total dedication to student learning and their genuine openness to experimentation. He hopes his gift will extend and fuel the entrepreneurial spirit he found prevalent throughout Butler University.
“Because arts education will inevitably evolve, I wanted to create a gift capable of keeping pace with that evolution,” Caltabiano said. “Providing future deans with a discretionary fund allows them to direct resources as their specific era dictates. Ultimately, I want to empower future leaders to build their own unique visions and to be entrepreneurial in ways that matter most to them.”
Caltabiano is a distinguished composer and arts administrator whose career spans decades of international acclaim. He earned undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Elliott Carter and Vincent Persichetti. Caltabiano’s extensive catalog includes celebrated orchestral commissions for the San Francisco, Dallas, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras, as well as critically acclaimed chamber and vocal works. Beyond his prolific achievements as a composer, recognized with prestigious honors from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundations, among others, Caltabiano has also served in higher education arts administration as associate dean at San Francisco State University, and as dean at DePaul University and Butler University.
“The arts–all the arts–are the center of my life,” he said. “While I am a musician by training, dance, theatre, and arts administration have always been vital parts of my world, making the Jordan College of the Arts the perfect home for this gift. It’s immensely satisfying to know that I can help future endeavors of JCA.”
Boldly Butler is our commitment to setting the standard for delivering a transformative education with local impact and global reach. To achieve this strategic vision, we’ve launched the Boldly Butler comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest in Butler’s history, with a goal of raising $325 million by May 31, 2030. Learn more or make a gift today at boldly.butler.edu.