Development

 

Support our mission

CCAD fosters a community that educates diverse students so they can unleash their creative power to shape culture and commerce. With your support, CCAD is quickly gaining recognition as a top-tier college of art and design, a cultural leader, and the engine of Columbus’ creative economy. What’s more, CCAD is building a global reputation for delivering an innovative and relevant creative educational experience of value to its students, alumni, and society thanks to you. 
 

Development
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The CCAD Way

The CCAD Way is defined by Creative Collaboration, a charge to work together across disciplines to unearth new perspectives. It is grounded in Intentional Inclusivity, a commitment to equity in the creative community. And it produces Proven Potential, as illustrated by the successes of our alumni who are blazing new trails in fields of art, design, and industry around the world.

Creative Collaboration

Addeline Kelley (Advertising & Graphic, 2023) has had a CCAD experience filled with Creative Collaboration.

“My professors call AdGraph the major that uses all the majors,” she says. “They say, “You’re a graphic designer, go get your photographer friend or illustrator friend to help make your stuff.” Those projects always turn out better and stronger.”

Thanks to CCAD’s partnership with Huntington, Addeline was able to get real world experience designing for a client. Here’s what she had to say about the project:

“Working with Huntington was a really interesting experience. I loved having the people who do this professionally looking over my shoulder, helping me, and teaching the programs. … I really enjoyed the collaboration aspect, getting to work with my peers and bounce ideas off of each other and also working with industry professionals.”

While president of the Sustainability Collective, she worked with board members, Student Services, and Facilities to help create a community garden on campus. She describes the impact of it not just as a food source:

“This beautiful thing on campus that’s usable. I have people tell me they take plants for silkscreening, collages, pressing it into pottery, and you can use some of the plants for pigments in paint. It’s very much a community focused garden and I want people to use it. It was amazing to see that come to life.”

Intentional Inclusivity

Grayson Cooper (Illustration, 2023) served as President of the Queer Artist Collective. He transferred to CCAD his junior year stating how the sense of community, diversity, and campus life feels like a much better fit for him.

He notes that at CCAD, “There’s definitely a lot of focus put on helping people feel included and safe. I appreciate the amount of effort I see in this community.”

When asked about how his identity impacts his art, he says:

“A lot. For my senior thesis that I’m working on right now, the theme is trans joy. A big thing for me, is that every time you see the word ‘transgender’ in media it’s not positive. My work is trying to help people feel joyful in their identity. A lot of the trans narrative is you hate your body, people are mean to you, everything sucks. It’s not always like that, there’s a lot of joy in being trans, too.”

Jaiden Garden (Illustration, 2024), served as President of the Black Student Leadership Association (BSLA). When asked about how he became involved with the group he explains:

“CCAD is a primarily white institution, so BSLA is a club where you can be around more people like you. That’s the reason I joined, to be around other Black artists. There is still racism at every school, but BSLA allows you to let down barriers and be more yourself. We talk about common issues that Black people and black artists face.”

The club hosts community speakers and panels to talk about these issues in addition to social events for the students. 

“It’s a place where black people can feel safe, relax, and connect, but everyone is welcome because it’s also a space for people to learn more about Black culture by being around Black people.”

Proven Potential 


Our students are the changemakers of tomorrow. Through a rigorous curriculum, they learn how to succeed as professional artists and designers. There is no better testament to CCAD’s Proven Potential than our amazing alumni. From major movie studios to local businesses, our alumni shine in their fields.

Check out some of our alumni success stories on the CCAD blog. 


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About our team
 

Erika Photo

 Erika Gable
Associate Vice President for Development
[email protected]
614.222.6181 

Kirsten Photo

Kristina Rawson 
Donor Relations Manager
[email protected]
614.222.3233 

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Marie Morgan
Alumni Engagement Coordinator
 [email protected]
614.222.3243

 

Jensen Photo

 Jensen Hykes
Corporate Engagement & Annual Giving Coordinator
[email protected]
614.222.3285

Jordan Mock Image

Jordan Mock
Development Operations Specialist
[email protected]
614.222.3238

 

Meredith Hallett headshot

Meredith Hallett  (Illustration, 2025)
Development Student Assistant
[email protected]



Columbus College of Art & Design Development Office
Office Address: 60 Cleveland Ave. | Columbus, OH 43215
[email protected] | 614.222.3232