Senior Administration

Dennison W. Griffith

President

Dennison W. Griffith was appointed as Columbus College of Art & Design’s third president in 1998. During his presidency he has overseen the growth and development of the campus including the purchase and renovation of the Byers building into Design Studios on Broad, the construction of Design Square Apartments and the Loann Crane Center for Design, the installation of CCAD’s famous 10-story-high ART sculpture, and growth in CCAD’s academic, community outreach, and exhibition programs. He also occasionally teaches painting, business practices, and independent study.

Griffith currently serves on the boards of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the I Know I Can scholarship program in Columbus, Experience Columbus and the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. He is involved in several community initiatives including Columbus Student Engagement Project (a.k.a. "easyColumbus"), and Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s 2012 Commission, Image and Marketing focus area.

Alongside his administrative career he has maintained a vigorous commitment to his work as an artist. His paintings have been included in more than 90 solo and group exhibitions and are represented in many public and private collections. He is represented by Hammond Harkins Galleries in Columbus.

He earned his master of fine arts degree from The Ohio State University (1994) and his bachelor of fine arts from Ohio Wesleyan University (1974). He also earned a certificate of completion from the Getty Leadership Institute for Museum Management in 1996. For the decade prior to his appointment to CCAD, he worked at the Columbus Museum of Art in several capacities including deputy director.

Anedith Nash, Ph.D.

Provost

Anedith Nash oversees all aspects of student and academic affairs. She oversees student services department directors, including dean of students, registrar, financial aid, advising, career resources, library, admissions, visiting artists and exhibitions programs. She is responsible for the leadership of six academic deans, 80 full-time and contract regular faculty and 110-120 adjunct faculty, and provides academic support for faculty and programs.

Since joining CCAD in 2000 Dr. Nash has participated in the leadership of several important initiatives, including a five-year project to implement policies, procedures, and staffing for a campuswide student data system, culminating in a “one-stop shop” for student services in a newly designed facility. Her leadership, in consultation with the president, deans and faculty of the divisions led the college to an Academic Plan for 2003-13, which has, in large part, been accomplished in five years.

Prior to coming to CCAD, Dr. Nash was the dean and chief of operations at Oregon College of Art & Craft; and held administrative and faculty positions at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Hamline University and Macalester College. Dr. Nash has a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Jeffrey A. Fisher

Senior Vice President, Chief Fiscal Officer

Jeffrey Fisher has been senior vice president & CFO of Columbus College of Art & Design since 1998. He has been with the college for more than 23 years and was originally hired in the business office in 1983. In 1994 he was named vice president for finance. For 15 months in 1996-97 Jeff served as acting co-president while the college searched for a new president. Prior to working for the college he worked at Reynolds Metals Company as a financial and cost analyst. Fisher graduated from The Ohio State University in 1979 with a BS in administrative science and a major of accounting. In 1999 he attended and completed Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management.

Stephanie Hightower

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Stephanie Hightower is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient efforts to strategically position the college and expand the institution’s donated income. She is responsible for leading marketing and communications, media relations, philanthropy, community relations, alumni engagement, and legislative affairs. She is accountable for the development and implementation of the institution's brand identity, all giving programs, grant development and administration, budgetary management of resources, and the development and execution of a comprehensive alumni relations program. She most recently is involved in the planning and direction of the college’s first comprehensive campaign geared to raise $12 million for capital improvements and endowment growth.

Between 1977–1988, Stephanie earned collegiate, national and international recognition as a world class track and field athlete competing in the 100 meter hurdles. She held several American and world records and was a member of 1980 Olympic Team before retiring in 1988. Since retiring from competition, Hightower has continued her involvement with USA Track & Field, and in December 2008, she was elected to a four-year term as USA Track & Field’s board chairman and president.

Hightower has led an extensive career in the public sector. She served as president of the Columbus Board of Education from 2001-2005. Prior to coming to CCAD Hightower has served as special assistant to the mayor of Columbus, director of communications for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and director of development and communications for the Columbus Urban League. Hightower is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Char Norman

Associate Provost

Char Norman came to CCAD in 1998 and became associated provost in 2003. She developed and built upon the college’s continuing education and special programming departments, and as associate provost she continues to expand these areas while also overseeing enrollment management and academic advising, leading the reaccreditation process, and playing a key roll in developing the college’s strategic plan.

During her tenure, Norman has created several new opportunities by expanding the college’s extra curricular programming, which includes everything from workshops for art and design professionals to international study opportunities. She developed a series of unique summer programs, including minimesters, which allow students to earn credit beyond the traditional semester schedule, College PreView, which provides high-school-age students the opportunity to experience art college for a few weeks—living and taking classes on campus; she also developed intensive professional institutes for arts educators. As associate provost, Norman facilitated the reorganization and streamlining of the admissions processes, which included developing strategic business and marketing plans, restructuring office roles and providing new admissions development opportunities. She enhanced academic advising to provide students with effective counseling pertaining to course and major selection, internships, off-campus opportunities, and career advice to aid in the retention and success of students.

Norman holds a BA from Scripps College and an MFA from Claremont Graduate University. She is also an accomplished artist specializing in fiber sculpture and papermaking, and she has an extensive national and international record of teaching and exhibitions.

Dwayne Todd

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Dwayne Todd has been with CCAD since 2001. In his current position, he oversees residence life, student activities and events, counseling services, career services, academic support services, disability services, campus dining services, judicial affairs, orientation/new student programs, and student insurance programs, and participates in institutional assessment and planning functions. He previously served in various student affairs roles at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, and was the assistant chair of the MBA at Franklin University in Columbus, OH. Among these institutions, his career in higher education spans 15 years of work in multiple areas of higher education administration.

Originally from Dayton, OH, Dwayne received a bachelor of music from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and a master of divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at The Ohio State University, and his research interest pertains to the professional development of student affairs practitioners. Additionally, Dwayne serves as an adjunct faculty member in the MBA program at Ohio Dominican University, teaching courses in leadership, organizational change management, and graduate learning strategies. Dwayne also serves as the director of professional development on the Governing Board for ACPA—College Student Educators International, a comprehensive student affairs professional association with more than 8,000 members worldwide.