Char Norman, Dean of Faculty

CCAD staff member Char Norman has taken on a new appointment as the CCAD dean of faculty.

Norman has worked full time with CCAD since 1998 in roles that include director of continuing education, interim vice president of academic affairs, and associate provost.

During her tenure, Norman has created new opportunities by expanding the college’s extracurricular and continuing education programming, which includes everything from workshops for art and design professionals to international study opportunities.

Her new position focuses her experience and skills in a direction where she will be able to chart a new path for CCAD and its faculty.

“This is the first time this position has existed at CCAD and I look forward to becoming an advocate for the faculty, being their resource, and ensuring accountability,” Norman said.

The position will have an impact internally and externally. Faculty members will gain greater opportunities by working on partnerships both nationally and internationally within the artistic community.

The position was created based in large measure on the feedback provided at CCAD’s 2011 Academic Leadership Retreat, Many Voices: Forging Excellence and Sustainability. Conversation at the retreat indicated the need for additional support for faculty at the college.

“I see her role as a critical one that will provide support of teaching professionals, development of their pedagogy and engagement in a community of practice, and help for them to set their own standards for faculty excellence through hiring, evaluation, development, and review,” said Kevin Conlon, vice president of academic affairs.

“Through the conversations I have had with Char there is one consistent theme of her being thoroughly engaged with the institution and its faculty, their efforts, and their needs,” Conlon added.

Norman is viewed as a peer among faculty members and an appropriate representative for them.  Her appointment not only will mean a transformation in faculty relations but also will translate into a stronger presence for the college’s faculty within a broad community of practicing professionals and peer institutions.

“Not only do I have this knowledge of higher education and assessment, but I am also a professional artist and in the trenches along with them,” Norman said.

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

CCAD talent on display at Bluemile

A collaborative effort to support central Ohio entrepreneurs and to nurture the best ideas from the region includes a display of art for purchase as one of its active components.

Local tech company Bluemile, ranked in 2010 by Inc. Magazine as one of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, is featuring artwork by CCAD alumni and faculty in its New Albany office as one way to introduce visitors and other programs to the college.

“We see CCAD as a leader in creative thought,” said Michael Marlowe, president and co-founder of Bluemile. “We’re introducing the college to various programs that we participate in that encourage idea growth and opportunity.”

Kevin J. Conlon, vice president for Academic Affairs, said CCAD talent came up in discussions with Marlowe as one way to support the company’s extensive involvement in venture accelerator and entrepreneurial programs.

“The elements that artists use to create are the same that entrepreneurs use to develop their businesses,” Marlowe said.

Since joining CCAD in June, Conlon has gotten to know the business executive as well as Fine Arts alumnus Adam Brouillette (CCAD 2002), executive director for Wonderland and founder of Couchfire Collective. Both impressed him with their ideas about the value of creativity as a means to solve problems, spark innovation and develop entrepreneurship.

Conlon immediately thought of Brouillette as a source for connecting with the best artistic talent that Columbus has to offer when Marlowe inquired about showcasing artists and their work. In a matter of days Brouillette organized 12 artists, the majority of whom are affiliated with CCAD, with a shared vision that creative individuals of all types contribute to the overall cultural value of the area.

“I have learned through experience that artistic, creative cultures thrive when supported and coupled with business entrepreneurs,” Brouillette said. “The opportunity to have these creative endeavors collide makes complete sense and I’m happy to do my part.”

Along with Brouillette, participating Fine Arts alumni included Christine D’Epiro (CCAD 2005), Andrew Ina (CCAD 2006), Boryana Rusenova Ina (CCAD 2006), Mike Litzau (CCAD 2004), Lauren Mudd (CCAD 2004), Nikos Fydor Rutkowski (CCAD 2002), Stephanie Sypsa (CCAD 2004) and Christopher Tennant (CCAD 2006). Other participants included Illustration alumnus Brian R. Williams (CCAD 2003), an adjunct instructor in Advertising & Graphic Design, and Foundation Studies adjunct instructor Nicole Langille. Ina and Litzau also are adjunct instructors in Foundation Studies and Rusenova Ina is a Fine Arts adjunct instructor.

“It makes perfect sense,” Conlon said. “(An artist’s) way of thinking during the creative process, also called abductive thinking, is identical to the sort of thinking that entrepreneurs engage to come up with new ideas.”

“I believe that Michael, Adam and I all share a vision that creative individuals of all types can contribute their skills in a way that realizes value from new ideas and new intellectual property,” Conlon said. “Overall, those skills contribute to the cultural value of the region and lead to the establishment and growth of creative companies in central Ohio.”

“CCAD is thrilled to expand its creative community with its recent hires,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Kevin Conlon.  “A focused and strategic hiring process that concluded this spring has netted the college our first choices in each search.  We’re extremely proud that CCAD is attracting this caliber of faculty. Quality attracts quality, and going forward, it’s going to be exciting to see the academic programs resonate with the diverse expertise of these new hires’ experience.”

Conlon added that he is grateful for the search committees for their hard work and diligence in the hiring process. “CCAD students will benefit from their efforts to hire the very best,” he said.

Benine received her MFA in Photography from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her BFA in Photography from the University of Washington. She will be an assistant professor in Media Arts.

Cesare is completing her Ph.D. in Art History this summer at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, and holds a MA in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons: The New School for Design and a BA in International Business from Marymount College.  She joins the Liberal Arts department as an assistant professor.

Landsbergen holds a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from the University of Washington, an MS in Ecology from Duke University and a BA in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Memphis. She will be joining the regular faculty as Associate Professor for Cross Disciplinary Studies and Sustainability Research. Her office will be in Liberal Arts, but she is charged with helping faculty to integrate science and sustainability throughout the curriculum.

Mohr holds an MFA in Design & Technology from Parsons: The New School for Design and a BFA in Graphic Design from Bowling Green State University. He will serve as an assistant professor in the Visual Communications division.

Thune holds a bachelor degree in Industrial Design (BID) from Auburn University. In his more than 20 years as an industrial designer, he has completed consumer, medical, industrials, and houseware products. Thune will serve as an instructor in the Industrial and Interior Design division. Learn more about Thune on his website.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Kevin J. Conlon

Columbus College of Art & Design recently announced that Kevin J. Conlon will become the new vice president of academic affairs (VPAA) at CCAD, effective June 23, 2011.

“Kevin has a keen grasp of contemporary academic challenges and trends, rich experience in the nurturing and development of art and design faculty and students, and a clear love affair with our distinctive kind of higher education,” said President Dennison W. Griffith. “As both artist and administrator, he brings the sensibilities and sensitivities we need to continue to sharpen our work and elevate our quality. I couldn’t be happier about his appointment and am very eager to have him join the CCAD family.”

Conlon most recently served as the associate vice president for academic affairs atRingling College of Art and Design. Previously, he served as dean of undergraduate studies at Savannah College of Art and Design. Conlon earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Alabama and his Master of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University.

In addition to his administrative positions, Conlon also works as a writer and consultant in the fields of interaction design, architectural restoration, foundry work, curriculum design and institutional effectiveness. He has maintained his studio practice for more than 25 years. His distinctive sculptural works in bronze, cast resin, clay, and fiberglass, as well as oil paintings and works on paper have won many awards and honorariums, and have been exhibited widely.

Conlon is looking forward to working with faculty and staff. “I feel that CCAD is perfectly poised to take advantage of unique synergies being developed around the idea of creativity and creative thinking as a force for change,” he said. “You see, the kind of thinking that artists and designers do every day is not only being realized in today’s very powerful creative economy, but also being recognized as a potent way to seek and solve today’s problems.  This means that CCAD students are going to remain well-poised to become not only the next generation of visual communicators, but also the next generation of global leadership.”

As the college’s chief academic officer Conlon is expected to lead the continuous improvement of academic programs by shaping the academic and cultural tone of the institution. He will perform an essential role in orchestrating faculty and academic leadership’s creation of a coherent and forward-looking platform for design-based, cross-disciplinary education and will assist Griffith in formulating policy and in strengthening and developing partnerships with other academic institutions.

Dean of Fine Arts and Foundation Studies Julie Taggart was on the search committee for the position. “I was looking for an individual with creative vision and leadership experience within an institution like CCAD,” Dean Taggart said. “I feel confident that Kevin’s ideas, energy and enthusiasm will accelerate the progression of innovative concepts that fuel a dynamic curriculum.”

Read the full press release.