Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA)
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) seeks a dynamic, visionary, and innovative leader to serve as its Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) with an anticipated start date in July or August 2025. This critical leadership role will directly influence the academic strategies and direction of the institution, reporting to the President and joining the senior leadership team. The VPAA will oversee all academic programs, academic support initiatives, and faculty with a strong focus on preparing students to become forward-thinking, creative practitioners in the visual arts. This position plays an essential role in fostering curriculum development, advancing student success, and driving institutional growth.
MIAD’s vision for the future is to cultivate a galvanized educational and creative community that addresses broad needs through intention, action, and expression. As part of this forward-thinking environment, the VPAA will shape an academic experience that reflects MIAD’s core values: courage, integrity, kindness, community, innovation, and inclusion. These values guide every aspect of student engagement, faculty development, and academic programming.
MIAD student enrollment has grown 40 percent in ten years, with students focused on innovation, empathy, and community engagement. MIAD is learning-centered and student-focused.
Initial review of candidates will occur in early April 2025.
MIAD offers an attractive benefits package, including health, vision and dental insurance. All final candidates extended an offer must successfully complete reference and background checks.
About MIAD
For over 50 years, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) has provided a transformative creative education, igniting curiosity through art, design, and service. As Wisconsin’s leading private, nonprofit art and design college, MIAD prepares students for diverse, fulfilling, and financially rewarding careers through innovative, entrepreneurial thinking in a student-focused community.
Today, MIAD enrolls over 800 students annually in its nationally ranked BFA programs, including Communication Design, Illustration, Animation Track (Illustration), Product Design, Fashion and Apparel Design, Fine Art + New Studio Practice, and Interior Architecture and Design. Student enrollment has grown 40% in the past decade, with a strong emphasis on innovation, empathy, and community engagement.
Beyond the classroom, MIAD fosters cultural experiences and community impact through robust youth programs, nonprofit partnerships, and corporate collaborations, strengthening Milwaukee’s creative economy.
Looking forward, MIAD remains a dynamic educational and creative force, addressing broad societal needs through action, intention, and expression.


MIAD is committed to a teaching, learning, and working environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. The college prohibits students, employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors from engaging in discrimination and harassment based on any individual’s age, race, creed, color, disability, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, religion, arrest record, conviction record, military service, veteran status, use or nonuse of lawful products off MIAD premises during nonworking hours, and any other legally protected characteristic. This prohibition applies to all of MIAD’s educational programs and activities—including admissions—as well as all employment actions, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, and benefits.
About Milwaukee
Milwaukee is different from every place you’ve been. As one of America’s great cities, it combines a dynamic urban vibe, rich cultural heritage and a welcoming Midwestern undercurrent. From music to food, unique neighborhoods to incredible small businesses, the city offers something for everyone. There’s so much to do and see in Milwaukee, and MIAD’s prime location in the Historic Third Ward positions you at the heart of it all. Explore Lake Michigan just a few blocks from campus, visit Third Ward galleries, restaurants and shops, or see the world champion Milwaukee Bucks play nearby at the Fiserv Forum.There is also accessibility to parks, rivers, and other outdoor recreation. Milwaukee’s Summerfest, the world’s largest musical festival, takes place in the neighborhood near MIAD.
The city is recognized for its museums, fine dining and hotels, professional sports, gardens and parks, and Milwaukee County Zoo. These various opportunities, combined with numerous public and private schools, make Milwaukee a family-friendly city. Milwaukee also has two opera companies, a ballet, a symphony, and several live theatre companies.


News
Students highlight Senior Exhibition 2025 projects
MIAD seniors Rita Jennings ’25 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Noah Teague ’25 (Communication Design) and Fabian Rico Sanchez ’25 (Product Design) explore empathy, connection and innovation through their capstone projects.
Tamar Cawthra: Senior Exhibition 2025
Tamar Cawthra ’25 (Illustration), “A Haunting in Vicksburg.” Tamar is a President’s (Honor) List student from Howell, Mich.
Summerfest collaborates with MIAD Lubar Innovation Center
This year, Milwaukee Summerfest partnered with the Lubar Innovation Center at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) to design the 2025 lineup poster.
Tatiana Osburn: Senior Exhibition 2025
Tatiana Osburn ’25 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), “Solace In My Pews Of Devotion.” Tatiana is from Milwaukee, Wis.
Lauren Blood: Senior Exhibition 2025
Lauren Blood ’25 (Communication Design; Business minor through Marquette), “Raða.” Lauren was a Finalist at the recent 2025 United Adworkers Showcase Awards and is from Kansas City, Kansas.