Dr. Melanie Corn

Welcome to Columbus College of Art & Design.

We’re one of the nation’s top private art and design colleges, and we’ve been leading the way in educating a diverse group of talented students for more than 140 years. Here, you’ll be pushed to think, create, and work at the highest level. You’ll explore different media in our state-of-the-art facilities and grow from close mentorships with our world-class faculty. You’ll bring your ideas to life, and you’ll master the tools to change culture and business for the better.

Together, CCAD and Columbus are a powerful combination: CCAD provides the education, and the city provides networking opportunities that launch careers into both the local and international creative industries. Our strong alumni network and our partnerships help our students land jobs right out of college. In fact, 84 percent of our graduates were employed or involved in further education within six months of graduation in 2016. You’ll find our alumni all over the globe represented by top galleries, launching their own businesses, and working at all types of companies, including Abercrombie & Fitch, American Greetings, DreamWorks, Facebook, General Electric, Google, Nike, Paramount, and Pixar, just to name a few!

Come join us at CCAD. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do here.

—Dr. Melanie Corn, President 

Letters from Dr. Melanie Corn

 


 

Who is Dr. Corn?

Dr. Melanie Corn is the fifth president of Columbus College of Art & Design. Since joining the college in 2016, Dr. Corn has made significant progress on the dual goals of building a national reputation for the college and strengthening CCAD’s role as a leading cultural institution in the region. She has overseen the implementation of a three-year strategic plan, the construction of the new state-of-the-art Cloyd Family Animation Center, and an increase in new applicants and in overall enrollment at the college.

Dr. Corn makes connecting with students and graduates a priority, holding town halls, writing frequent letters to current students, and spearheading an annual alumni tour that includes stops across the country.

She is a member of the Columbus Partnership and serves on the boards of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, CBUS Retail, and the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park. Dr. Corn was a 2017 and 2018 finalist for the CEO of the Year award from Columbus CEO and a 2018 recipient of the Progressive Woman award from Smart Business.



Prior to joining CCAD, Dr. Corn spent 13 years in academic administration at California College of the Arts. She received her bachelor’s degree in art history from Stanford University, a master’s degree in art history from the University of California Santa Barbara, and a doctorate in higher education management from University of Pennsylvania.

After working in art and design education for more than a decade and a half, Dr. Corn is a fervent believer in the power of creativity. She loves her job because, as she frequently says, “No one’s mom ever made them go to art school,” meaning, of course, that CCAD students are intentional, hardworking, and passionate about their education.

As part of CCAD’s strategic plan, Dr. Corn helped to define the college’s institutional values—accountability, inspiration, positivity, and respect. Her vision for the future of the college includes adding new degree offerings and facilities to meet the needs of tomorrow's creative workforce and building on CCAD's long history of youth programming and community education with more professional development offerings for the thriving workplaces of central Ohio.

 


President's Report

CCAD's inaugural President's Report summarizes key information from the 2020–2021 academic year and shares details about our near-term plans. Read the report.
 


 

 


Check out Dr. Corn's Social Media feeds 

melanie_corn

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Remember just last year when we unplugged for a day @ccadedu to reconnect with one another? And now plugging in is the only way TO connect? Stay home, stay safe, stay connected. Make sure you’re using all this extra screen time to connect with your community, not just zone out! #TBT #myccad 📸 @tywwright
3 years ago

melanie_corn

I just made a super delish blueberry cobbler, if I do say so myself! #blueberrycobbler #quarantinebaking
3 years ago

melanie_corn

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Good morning friends! How’s your Monday going! Are you having a Biscuit kinda morning or a Copper one? Wishing you sunshine and puppy optimism for the week! #biscuitandcopper #puppiesofinstagram #bernedoodle #minibernedoodle #cockalier
3 years ago

Melanie_Corn

RT @Melanie_Corn: My #WFH spaces full of @ccadedu alumni art. Piece on L is from #CCADartfair, artist Mary Gaye Miller. Join me in supporti…
3 years ago

melanie_corn

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So happy to have my #WFH spaces full of fantastic art from @ccadedu alumni. Piece on the left is from the #CCADartfair, artist Mary Gaye Miller. Join me in supporting our students and alumni (including Miller) for CCAD’s VIRTUAL Spring Art Fair. 50+ students & alumni will be selling their outstanding work at ccad.edu/artfair from Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m. to Sunday, April 12, at 11:59 p.m. (And btw, the painting on the right is by the fabulous alum @rooflinestudios.) #myccad
3 years ago

melanie_corn

#smartdog #playfuldog Sound on for full puppy experience. #puppiesofinstagram #minibernedoodle #bernedoodle
3 years ago

melanie_corn

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So happy to have my #WFH spaces full of fantastic art from @ccadedu alumni. Got these all at #CCADartfair. Join me in supporting our students and alumni for CCAD’s VIRTUAL Spring Art Fair. 50+ students & alumni will be selling their outstanding work at ccad.edu/artfair from Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m. to Sunday, April 12, at 11:59 p.m. (The page will go live then!) Pieces here are by Carol Snyder, @amy_schuessler, and @nsmetters. #myccad
3 years ago

melanie_corn

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Today’s dose of puppy cuteness. 💕🐶💕 #biscuitthebernedoodle #puppiesofinstagram #minibernedoodle #bernedoodle
3 years ago

melanie_corn

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Introducing Biscuit the Mini Bernedoodle. Expect to see lots of her in the coming weeks. We picked her up today. She’s just so darn cute! But we’re officially outnumbered!! 🐶🐶🐱🐱>🧔👱👦 #puppiesofinstagram #bernedoodle
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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My #WFH coworker for the day. Napping on the job! #peachesthecat
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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Spring is springing here in Columbus. @ccadedu students (and everyone else), don’t forget to take breaks and get outside during this #WFH period. Remember: It’s physical distance. Not social distance. #myccad
4 years ago

Melanie_Corn

RT @Melanie_Corn: Our amazing @CCADedu Safety & Security and Facilities teams just donated hundreds of cases of latex gloves and N95 masks…
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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Our amazing @ccadedu Safety & Security and Facilities teams just donated hundreds of cases of latex gloves and N95 masks to @ohiohealth. #inthistogetherohio #columbusstrong #stayhomeohio #myccad
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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#amishcountry #ohioslongestcoveredbridge #bridgeofdreams #socialdistanced #puppiesofinstagram (stay tuned for more news and tons of pics of the newest addition to our family!)
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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Official “Stay at Home” order issued today in Ohio. That meant a Sunday afternoon of work, but then followed by baking (triple berry pie) and a slightly overwhelming round of Audubon birds match game! #familytime
4 years ago

melanie_corn

#WFH means I get to enjoy @tanner8026’s mug collection. #notametaphor
4 years ago

Melanie_Corn

RT @Melanie_Corn: I write personal notes to ⁦@CCADedu⁩ students in challenging times, & this is definitely one. Everyday is a new official…
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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A little stressful at school right now. Working hard to do our part @ccadedu to take care of our community. Can’t go to FL as planned next week, so reflecting on some images from our last visit. Also, 2 days of the #ArtMakesMarch challenge in 1: Joy and Nature.
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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Test Plate for Virginia Woolf from The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago. I’ve taught The Dinner Party many times, and it was so incredible to see this beautiful precursor to the monumental finished piece. Thank you @columbusmuseum for making that happen! #ArtMakesMarch = “ceramic.” #artafterstonewall #judychicago #feministart
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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#ArtMakesMarch word(s) of the day for 3/9: “Look Up”. #myccadartsign #ccadartsign #nobadangles
4 years ago

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#ArtMakesMarch word of the day is Harmony. #catsanddogs
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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Happy birthday to my favorite - a day late. Birthday = breakfast of champions (🥐+🍫🥐). Best kid ever! (And March 7 = a favorite for #artmakesmarch)
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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March 6 - New #ArtMakesMarch #newtoyou #newnotnew #antiqueshopping
4 years ago

melanie_corn

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What an incredible show. Truly a labor of love for @columbusmuseum. And a gift of love to the LGBTQ+ community, to Columbus, to art lovers everywhere. March 5 - Love #ArtMakesMarch
4 years ago