黑料专区

Photo Credit: Ashley Story
黑料专区 has named Allison J. Puff as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective July 15, 2026.

###DETROIT, Mich., April 30, 2026 鈥� The 黑料专区 (黑料专区) has named Allison J. Puff as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the institution鈥檚 chief academic officer. Puff brings a distinguished record of academic leadership, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Interim Co-President at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI).

Puff is an educator and academic leader who has spent her career at the intersection of creative practice and higher education. She is recognized for her ability to navigate institutional change, align academic priorities with strategic enrollment and retention strategies, and champion inclusive student-centered practices. As 黑料专区鈥檚 Provost, Puff will lead the institution鈥檚 academic vision, strategy, and operations, overseeing all degree-granting majors, academic departments, and student success resources.

黑料专区 President Don Tuski shared, 鈥淭he 黑料专区 community is thrilled to have Allison Puff join 黑料专区 as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Allison brings an amazing array of skills and abilities to 黑料专区 at a critical time for us. I am looking forward to working with her on many initiatives.鈥�

At KCAI, Puff co-led the institution through a strategic transition and oversaw a $13M+ academic budget. Under her leadership, KCAI achieved record enrollment for the 2024鈥�2026 academic cycles and improved first-year fall-to-spring retention from 90.4% to 93.5%. She developed the initial vision for KCAI鈥檚 Art+Design Labs, guiding its implementation and contributing to a 450% increase in non-credit offerings. Prior to KCAI, Puff held numerous leadership roles at Farmingdale State College, the largest of the State University of New York鈥檚 (SUNY) applied science and technology colleges.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to join the 黑料专区 at such an important moment,鈥� said Puff. 鈥満诹献�区鈥檚 commitment to access and opportunity, combined with the strength of its academic programs, creates a powerful foundation for what creative education can be. I鈥檓 looking forward to working with faculty, staff, and students to build on that momentum.鈥�

Over the past three years, 黑料专区 has aggressively expanded its mission to inspire creative potential across all backgrounds. Key initiatives include accelerated bachelor of arts programs for creative business careers, new transfer pathways, expanded experiential learning, and its Apple Academy partnership. Puff鈥檚 leadership will be instrumental in sustaining this momentum as 黑料专区 enters its next phase of transformation.

Puff earned an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from The School of Visual Arts and undergraduate degrees in English and Communication, and Illustration. She is the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Farmingdale Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, and a Faculty Leadership Award at Farmingdale State College. Her professional service has included national leadership roles with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) National Design Educators Community and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Education Board.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
The 黑料专区 (黑料专区) is a nonprofit, private college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 degrees. 黑料专区, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. 黑料专区 fosters students鈥� resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.

During the Fall semester, the 黑料专区 hosted 13 educational partnerships, including a diverse range of sponsored projects and competitions that engaged a variety of academic departments. Students partnered with local and global brands and Detroit community non-profits to work on projects tailored to meet the needs of our partners. Educational partnerships at 黑料专区 are highly conceptual and allow 黑料专区 students the opportunity to participate in creative, research-based assignments, interacting with designers and staff from the collaborating partners. Highlighted collaborations during the Fall semester include:

  • American Chemistry Council 鈥� Plastics Division x Transportation Design
  • Bedrock x Communication Design and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Art + Design, Interior Design and Fashion Design
  • BRP International Design Challenge x Transportation Design
  • DSC Design Sprint x Product Design
  • Foley & Lardner LLP x Illustration
  • Ford Motor Company x Transportation Design & Graduate Studies Color & Materials Design
  • Gardner White x Communication Design & Strategy
  • Hagopian x 黑料专区
  • Movement Festival x Communication Design & Strategy
  • New Balance x Product Design and Graduate Studies Color & Materials Design
  • Stafford House x Interior Design
  • Stellantis x Transportation Design
  • Urban Electronic, Inc. x Entertainment Arts

鈥淧artnering with the 黑料专区 during the holiday season on Windows on Woodward provided the opportunity to support emerging creative talent while strengthening connections between our downtown retailers and Detroit鈥檚 vibrant arts community,鈥� said Francesca Eid, Bedrock Vice President, Experience. 鈥淚nitiatives like this allow students to bring their creative ideas to life while contributing to the energy and spirit of the Lower Woodward corridor. We value these collaborations with local institutions and civic partners as an important way to nurture the next generation of creatives as they help shape Detroit鈥檚 future.鈥�

These alumni use their skills to serve others, share important information, and affect change in their local and state governments

The stories and artistic expressions presented here are a testament to the diverse and independent careers of our alumni. They do not constitute an endorsement, reflection, or representation of the institutional opinions or principles held by the 黑料专区.

Leading by Example

As a State Representative for Michigan鈥檚 13th House District, Mai Xiong, 鈥�07 Communication Design & Strategy, still uses the skills she learned at 黑料专区 nearly 20 years later in her role as an elected official. 鈥満诹献�区 taught me how to think creatively, approach problems from different perspectives and develop real-world solutions,鈥� Xiong said. In her current role, Xiong serves residents of Roseville, St. Clair Shores and Warren, working on legislation that improves their quality of life. Her communications and digital marketing background help her stay connected with constituents and make policy more accessible. 鈥淔inding creative ways to communicate is a powerful tool because when people understand policy, they can help shape solutions that truly improve our lives,鈥� she said.

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mai-Xiong_2.jpeg Mai Xiong 鈥�07

Every Vote Counts

Voting is one the best ways to make your voice heard, and these creatives are communicating that message through their art. Ndubisi Okoye, 鈥�15 Communication Design & Strategy, painted a colorful 鈥淰ote鈥� mural on the ACLU Michigan building in Detroit, as part of their 鈥淵our Vote Matters鈥� campaign. Sean Peacock, 鈥�22 Illustration, was tapped by Merch Aid 鈥� a social enterprise that pairs creatives with nonprofit organizations to design fundraising merchandise 鈥� to make a Michigan-inspired design for their 鈥淕et Out the Vote鈥� swing states campaign. Peacock highlighted the workers powering Michigan鈥檚 automotive industry as well as the United Auto Workers union. 鈥淟aborers in all industries, unionized or not, had a lot riding on the 2024 election, so I wanted them to be the stars of this piece,鈥� Peacock said. His design was on shirts and posters, available for sale on Merch Aid鈥檚 website. All profits were donated to the nonprofit.

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sean-Peacock-scaled.png Work by Sean Peacock 鈥�22

When We All Vote

From the big screen to the Capitol Julia Pickett, 鈥�14 Photography, has proven that using pop culture as a vehicle for political messages can help people feel more connected to their legislators. In 2023, Pickett, who is the Digital and Creative Director for the Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, created the 鈥淕overnor Barbie鈥� social media campaign. A Barbie doll, lovingly dubbed 鈥淟il Gretch,鈥� was used to share Gov. Whitmer鈥檚 policies while nodding to the 2023 Barbie film. Every detail, Pickett says (the fuchsia pantsuit, matching lipstick and Michigan necklace, to name a few), was made to capture Gov. Whitmer鈥檚 style and work. 鈥溾�楪overnor Barbie鈥� gave us a way to highlight real policies and accomplishments in a way that people wanted to share and talk about it,鈥� Pickett said. Indeed, Lil Gretch gained both local and national recognition, and the campaign won Pickett and her colleagues a Shorty Award. When planning content for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer鈥檚 office, Julia Pickett says authenticity drives everything she does. 鈥淕overnor Whitmer has such a relatable, direct way of connecting with people, and my job is to make sure that shines through online,鈥� she said.

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Julia-Pickett_5-scaled.jpeg www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Julia-Pickett_7-scaled.jpeg Work by Julia Pickett 鈥�14

Designing for Community

Ivonne Serrano, 鈥�22 Communication Design & Strategy, Visual Communications Designer for the Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, made the above graphic for a social media series explaining how tariffs impact individuals at every stage of life, such as when becoming parents. 鈥淭his graphic was a way to say, 鈥榃e hear you and we understand,鈥欌�� Serrano said. 鈥淲e also wanted to reassure families that while we can鈥檛 control tariffs, Michigan is still providing support through programs to help with the burden.鈥�

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Ivonne-Serrano-scaled.jpg Work by Ivonne Serrano 鈥�22

Humanity at its Core

Throughout her career, Leila Matta, 鈥�01 Communication Design & Strategy, has led with a 鈥渉uman-centered design鈥� approach. 鈥淗uman-centered design is a problem-solving technique that puts people at the center of the process, enabling us to create products and services that resonate and are tailored to our users鈥� needs,鈥� Matta said. Today, she is one of the federal government鈥檚 first human-centered design strategists, working for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services鈥� Innovation and Design for Enhanced Adjudication office. There, Matta has led user research initiatives and formed spaces for designers across divisions to connect.