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 

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Beverly Thomas and @chrisrmundell kicking off our afternoon of professional development @ccadedu. Super excited for Stephen John Quaye’s presentation! #myccad
3 years ago

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#ccadfacultyandstaff #letsgetitstarted #myccad
3 years ago

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Just getting around to posting my #topnine2019. As always, lots of #ccadartsign happening in the greatest hits! Happy new year! #bestnine2019 #myccad
3 years ago

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Started 2020 with more family time and wildlife. Went to Crystal River to check out the manatees. There were about 50 today hanging out in the warm spring waters. Back to reality tomorrow!
3 years ago

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Last sunset of 2019. #nofilter
3 years ago

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Beach day. #lovemykiddo 📸 @tanner8026
3 years ago

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Three species of tree frogs all hanging out on the side of the house last night: squirrel, barking, and green. #floridavacay #herpetologistlife
3 years ago

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#morningwalks #winterbreakinflorida #familytime
3 years ago

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RT @Melanie_Corn: Congratulations @wexarts! We @CCADedu are proud to be on that list with you! t.co/HNPM0OaZHw
3 years ago

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Flashback to Christmas 2015 - our last Florida family holiday. We went from my long-haired boy and giant beanie boos to my preteen and Oculus VR!
3 years ago

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Merry Christmas Eve!
3 years ago

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Morning nature walk with dad in Florida. (First pic is artfully edited by @julian_cornson. Second pic is the natural color of this very cool fungus!) #fungiofinstagram #familyvacay
3 years ago

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Loved seeing some of the @ccadinterior projects in Crane last week. Congrats to all the students for finishing up fall semester. See you in January! #myccad
3 years ago

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Thank you @mayor_ginther for decisive statements @cbusmetroclub about the responsibility of leaders to own the process of “making it right” when it comes to racism and bias in all orgs and communities. #cbusforum
3 years ago

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I love antique plant stands, but I do not have a green thumb! Been thinking about turning my 🌱 stands into sculpture pedestals, and decided plant sculptures was the right transition! Picked up these two beauties at the @ccadedu Art Fair today. Both are by CCAD alumni: @waywardadventureco (soft cactus) & @paperbloomsdesign_ Lea Gray (paper succulents). #myccad #ccadartfair #ccadalumni
3 years ago

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Just started! @ccadedu Art Fair. It’s the best art buying and holiday shopping in town!! Come down to campus before 3 p.m. #myccad
3 years ago

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My table at the Columbus Partnership dinner at @cscc_edu Mitchell Hall. Thank you for this delicious and delightful evening!
3 years ago

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Beautiful sunset last night. #myccad #ccadartsign #myccadartsign
3 years ago

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RT @Melanie_Corn: What would @CCADedu faculty and staff do if our annual budget were doubled? Dreaming big here at CCAD! More money for sch…
3 years ago

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RT @Melanie_Corn: Excited for an afternoon of collective strategic planning here @CCADedu! Wrapping up the current plan means also thinking…
3 years ago

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ccad.edu/givingtuesday ‪ I’m giving to @CCADedu today because I believe in the importance of art, the power of design, the ability of young people to change our culture & community for the better, & the role CCAD plays in helping those artists & designers unleash their creative potential. #GivingTuesday ‬#myccad
3 years ago

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#peachesthecat had a very photogenic weekend! #catsofinstagram
3 years ago

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Thanksgiving pies. Mom’s recipe for coconut pie in chocolate crust — always the best. The Corn family favorite: pumpkin with pecan streusel in graham cracker crust. And a new addition: apple cider custard — good, but not better than the classics! #holidaybaking #familyholidays #thanksgivingdinner
3 years ago

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He’ll bark at you and run away once you get here, but he’s super excited to wait for you! — the dog, not the kid. 😉 #aboyandhisdog #homefortheholidays #familyvisits
3 years ago