Dear Faculty and Staff,
I write to let you know about an upcoming Academic Affairs leadership transition.
After five years of dedicated service, Vice President of Academic Affairs Robert Ransick will be leaving MCAD on August 1, 2025.
Robert’s leadership has left an indelible mark on the college, helping shape the future of MCAD with insight and innovation. His steady, adaptive leadership ensured academic continuity and quality throughout the COVID pandemic. He collaborated with department leaders and faculty to implement significant curricular changes, including the integration of Product and Furniture Design into a single major; reimagining of the Fine Arts, Media Arts, and Creative Entrepreneurship programs; adding five new minors; creating the Chair of Foundation Studies and restructuring of that department; developing the required First-Year Experience: Communities of Practice course; and launching the new Master of Arts in Creative Leadership program. Robert earned Higher Learning Commission (HLC) commendation for reporting and progress, and guided preparation for the college’s 2026 HLC reaffirmation for accreditation. During his tenure, Robert garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars in external funding for academic programs; his faculty-focused Sherman Fairchild Foundation Art & Technology grant is currently pending. Robert’s commitment to inclusive leadership and academic excellence has positioned MCAD for continued success.
We will send out a save-the-date soon for a summer gathering on campus to celebrate Robert and his contributions.
With Robert’s pending departure, I am pleased to announce that Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Melissa Rands will be promoted to Vice President of Academic Affairs, effective August 4.
A proud MCAD alumna and employee since 2016, Melissa has consistently demonstrated thoughtful leadership throughout her tenure. Her deep understanding of MCAD’s mission and her collaborative approach have been instrumental in advancing faculty support, academic policy, and student learning.
Please join me in thanking Robert for his outstanding service and congratulating Melissa on her well-earned promotion. We will build upon the foundation they have established as we continue to advance MCAD’s academic mission.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Regards,
Gwen