PCA&D opens its search for the College’s next president

The Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania College of Art & Design has announced the search for the College’s next president and has opened the call for nominations and applications for this leadership opportunity. The position of president at PCA&D is an exciting one as the institution considers its role in the region and beyond. The College recently completed successful re-accreditation and is currently in the last year of its five-year plan. Enrollment has grown substantially, partnerships have flourished, a new major has been added, and institutional finances have been strengthened. Accelerating this opportunity will require a forward-thinking, accomplished individual who leads the College with a strategic sensibility, ensuring relevance and long-term sustainability.

“We are confident we will find an experienced educator that can carry  on the traditional fine arts and state of the art programs while broadening PCA&D’s curriculum to cater to the needs of next generation creatives,” said Russel D. Urban, past board chair and head of the search committee. “Our goal is to have a new president by the beginning of 2025.”

Founded in 1982, PCA&D is a private, professional college of art and design, offering BFA, BA, AFA, and AA degrees, as well as certificates, credentials, and curricula to enable students of all ages to pursue a creative life. Innovation has served the College well in recent years with the introduction of leading-edge initiatives that promise to place the College at the forefront of art and design education. In the fall of 2021, PCA&D was one of the nation’s first colleges to add Live Experience Design to its art and design majors. Its location in downtown Lancaster is well-suited to this endeavor as it is home to nearby Rock Lititz, a campus for the world’s premier live events industry and designers. In March of 2023, the College entered into a partnership with Academy of Live Technology, a U.K.-based school focusing on live events production, to offer a combined instructional program at Rock Lititz. In addition, PCA&D is currently poised for continued growth across all its art and design programs. 

Qualifications include: a terminal degree in a related discipline or an advanced degree with significant senior-level experience; a substantial record of administrative leadership and accomplishment; substantial financial and business skills; experience in leading, developing, and implementing strategic plans; experience in furthering academic growth; demonstrated ability to sustainably grow enrollment working in partnership with admissions and others; successful track record in fundraising; experience in building significant partnerships with the public and private sectors and universities and colleges; excellent communication skills; and a genuine understanding of the role of the visual arts today and a commitment to art and design education and the success of students at a small college.

Application: 

The Presidential Search Committee will begin the review of applications immediately and continue work until an appointment is made. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by October 4, 2024. The prospectus, with additional information about PCA&D, the priorities and qualifications for the next President, and instructions for application, may be found here. Application materials should be submitted through the AGB Search portal system specified under: Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – President.

Please direct any nominations, expressions of interest, or questions to: PACollegeArtDesign@agbsearch.com.