Come 2018, former New York City Ballet dancer Damian Woetzel will assume a new position: the seventh president of The Juilliard School.

As director of the Aspen Institute Arts Program and the Vail International Dance Festival, Woetzel raised the bar for the programs. He earned a master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in public administration. He served as guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, and was a member of President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Actively involved in bringing arts to public schools, Woetzel himself studied at the School of American Ballet before joining the company.

“On behalf of the board of trustees, I am pleased to welcome Damian Woetzel to The Juilliard School as our next president,” said Board Chair Bruce Kovner. “Since beginning our search last October, we have had the privilege of getting to know some of the most distinguished leaders in the arts field and beyond. Damian’s vision and optimism are second to none, and we are confident that he will advance Juilliard’s mission for the next generation while building on the foundation of artistic and academic excellence established by his distinguished predecessor, Joseph Polisi.”

Over 800 students, $110 million annual budget, and a $1 billion endowment will fall under Woetzel’s purview in the new appointment. He will work with current president Joseph W. Polisi in a transitional period before taking over full responsibilities in the new role.

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