Rate My Professor Jerome Socolof

Jerome Socolof is a Professor of Arts Management in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where he also serves as Department Chairperson. An administrator, researcher, and educator, he joined MCLA in 2018. Prior to this appointment, Socolof held the position of Assistant Professor of Arts Administration at the University of Houston-Downtown and served as an Adjunct Instructor of Arts Leadership at the University of Houston. His professional career includes hands-on experience at Ash Lawn Opera and the Lake George Music Festival, and he continues to engage as a grants panelist and consultant. Socolof's academic background includes a B.M. in Music Business from SUNY Potsdam, an M.A. in Arts Policy and Administration from The Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. in Art Education with a concentration in Cultural Policy and Administration from The Ohio State University. Trained initially as a vocalist during his undergraduate studies, he brings a practical foundation in performing arts management and arts policy to his teaching and research.

Socolof's research focuses on the role of outreach programs as mechanisms for generating public value within nonprofit organizations and the specific challenges and opportunities of arts administration in rural communities. He teaches core courses in the Arts Management program, including AMGT 130 Introduction to Arts Management, AMGT 245 Arts and Culture Marketing, AMGT 255 Financial Management in Arts and Culture, AMGT 340 Performing Arts Management, AMGT 385 Legal Issues in Arts and Culture, and AMGT 440 Advanced Performing Arts Management. A notable publication is his co-authored book, Rural Arts Management (Routledge, 2024), with Elise Lael Kieffer, which explores strategies for arts management in rural settings. As chairperson, Socolof oversees the Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management, emphasizing skills in strategic planning, leadership, marketing, grants, fundraising, and finance across visual arts, music, and theatre. He contributes to institutional governance as Faculty Union Representative for professors with fewer than 10 years of service and has participated in key college committees such as the All-College Committee.