Prof. Jan K. Erkert

Jan Erkert has been the Head of the Department of Dance at University of Illinois from 2006- present. As Artistic Director of Jan Erkert & Dancers she created over 70 works, which received recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council. Erkert’s current research explores leadership from an artist’s perspective. She has been awarded three major awards from the University of Illinois: the Executive Officer Distinguished Leadership Award, a Public Voices Fellowship, and the Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award for Leadership in Diversity for her outstanding academic leadership and vision. Ms. Erkert is a Fulbright Scholar Awardee and a nationally renowned teacher having conducted guest artist residencies throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. She is the author of Harnessing the Wind: The Art of Teaching Modern Dance and she received the 1999 Excellence in Teaching Award from Columbia College Chicago.