Since 1992, Bill Michel, has played an active arts leadership role at the University of Chicago. Bill currently serves as Associate Vice President and Executive Director of UChicago Arts and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. From fall 2015 through spring 2017, Bill also served as the Interim Director of the Smart Museum of Art. Early in his career, Bill led the substantial growth of student engagement in theater and the arts and partnered with Dean John Boyer to enhance the student experience outside the classroom. Through his role as Director of University Theater, Bill developed an arts-in-education program that served public schools throughout Chicago’s south side and worked closely with faculty colleagues to launch a new academic theater program. A member of the University’s Arts Steering Committee, Bill leads efforts to enhance visibility for UChicago Arts, encourages creative collaborations across the University and throughout Chicago, continues to work with faculty and staff colleagues to develop the University’s arts practice and scholarship initiatives, including the Arts Science and Culture Initiative and Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, and the University’s arts-based community engagement efforts, including the Arts + Public Life initiative, the Arts Block, and UChicago Arts K-12 Arts Education Initiative - Amplify. As the Inaugural Executive Director of the Logan Center, Bill has worked with academic departments, University presenting organizations, and other colleagues across the University as well as many south side and City wide artists and organizational partners to ensure that the Logan Center is a home of artistic practice that contributes to the vibrant cultural scene on the Southside and across Chicago while encouraging creativity in the next generation through various youth and family programs. From 1995 to 2009, Bill served in several leadership roles leading the College’s efforts to enrich the quality of student life, build a sense of community on campus, and support student success upon graduation. Off campus, Bill serves as a member of Board of the South Side Community Arts Center and is a member of the Honorary Board for About Face Theatre (having served as a member of the AFT Board for 14 years including 9 years as President). Recently, Bill has been recognized for his partnership work with artists and organizations across Chicago to support the jazz community: The Hyde Park Jazz Festival recognized Bill in spring 2015, the Jazz Institute of Chicago named Bill the Irma J. Pickens Outstanding Jazz Advocate of the year in October 2017, and the Englewood Jazz Festival recognized Bill with the Spirit of Jazz Award in 2018. Bill is 1992 graduate of the College at the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Politics, Economics, Rhetoric, and Law and a 2008 graduate of the Booth School of Business. Bill is married to Mark Botelho.
