Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of the Kansas University School of Fine Arts, has been named dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, effective July 1, 2003, KU officials announced Monday.

Montgomery, who has been at KU since April 2000, will take on her new duties effective July 1, 2003.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway released a statement about Montgomery’s decision to leave.

“Toni-Marie is an outstanding dean who has done a superb job at KU,” Hemenway said. “We are very sorry to see her go but understand the opportunity and the resources that Northwestern offers her.”

David E. Shulenberger, executive vice chancellor and provost, said Montgomery has worked “imaginatively and successfully to advance our school.”

While at KU, Montgomery increased annual gifts to the school from $394,625 in 2000 to $2,818,676 in the 2002 fiscal year. She also established 11 new scholarships, hired 19 new faculty members, the chair of the music and dance department , the executive director of the Lied Center, increased median salaries for faculty, instituted a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance and created the annual Collage Concert and fund-raising event.

Shulenburger said KU would launch a national search for a new dean.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Tuesday’s Journal-World.