Jeff Mason, the dean of the College of Arts and Letters and professor of theater and dance, announced his retirement today.

Mason will retire at the end of December and said his last official duties as dean will be the Dec. 18 commencement ceremony.

Mason served as a dean for five years at Sacramento State and said he particularly enjoyed working with the faculty.

“We’ve had a wonderful faculty. I’ve had terrific department chairs and they’ve done a great job,” Mason said.

Mason said of the few things he has done that he will take credit for, he is proud of the Proposition 8, same sex marriage initiative, symposium that he organized last fall.

The symposium was an examination of issues surrounding the initiative and figuring out how to deal with issues that are so divisive.

“Many of the faculty across departments and colleges were engaged and gave presentations that were outstanding . It was a good discussion of how we can “disagree,’ but continue to live and work together,” Mason said.

Mason will leave the university environment and focus more on personal projects such as finishing writing books and directing plays.

“I’ve enjoyed being here,” Mason said. “I’m looking forward to the college’s future and my own.”

Lauren Greenwood can be reached at [email protected].