Van Horn, who was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, said he is looking forward to speaking.
“The Diversity Breakfast is an important event on the university calendar and to be asked to serve as the keynote speaker is an honor I don’t take lightly,” Van Horn said. “My hope is to provide meaning to a subject that is vital to the lives of all of us, and particularly to the lives of our students who are inheriting a world that grows increasingly smaller. Inclusive global citizenship is an essential characteristic of our graduates and the Diversity Breakfast is one way to showcase the institution’s commitment to that.”
The theme of the breakfast is “We Are the World.” The food will be blessed by Salman A. Qayyum, a graduate student in Health Care Administration; Amanda Smythers, a biology senior; and Ekaterina Gutsan, a graduate student in health care administration.
Music will be provided by the MU Jazz Ensemble, featuring Gabe Muncy on trumpet; Bobby Galloway on tenor saxophone; Lars Swanson on bass; Hogan Bentle on drums; Tim Smith on piano/keyboard and Dr. Martin Saunders, director of jazz studies, conducting.
Maurice Cooley, associate vice president of intercultural affairs, will welcome the crowd and MU President Jerome Gilbert will deliver greetings.
Van Horn is a prominently recognized scholar and community activist. He received his B.F.A. in sculpture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1974 and an M.F.A. in sculpture from one of the nation’s most regarded fine arts academies, the University of Florida, in 1978. Van Horn’s work has been shown widely in over 25 distinguished solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, resulting in numerous awards.
His sculpting work is shown in several museums and galleries, and numerous private collections in the U.S. and Canada. In recent years, Van Horn has directed his creative focus to furniture design and production. Coworkers and friends says he is humble and extraordinarily creative.
Prior to joining Marshall University in 1995 as the dean of the College of Fine Arts, he served as a professor and chair with the Department of Art at the University of Texas and as an associate dean and then briefly as the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
On July 1, 2013, Van Horn became the founding dean of the College of Arts and Media at Marshall, when the College of Fine Arts merged with the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Although Van Horn is well respected by his academic peers, he is also esteemed among Marshall University students and particularly those who have had the opportunity to receive his teaching and guidance.
In addition to his service as an academician, his service to the community is extensive. His membership on the boards of directors of the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, the Huntington Museum of Art and formerly with the Friends of West Virginia Public Radio are among many of his services to the community.
Van Horn and his wife, Diana, live in Huntington and are the parents of two sons, Lee and Adam. Both medical doctors, Lee is in his family medicine residency at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, and Adam is in his ear/nose/throat residency at the University of Lexington Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.