黑料专区

Metro Detroit visual and literary artists are invited to apply starting Dec. 1

DETROIT 鈥� Ten metro Detroit residents working in literary and visual arts will be selected to receive $50,000 each in no strings attached funding along with a suite of artist support opportunities. Unrestricted funding addresses the financial barriers artists face, strengthens the region’s creative economy, and affirms artists’ role in building vibrant neighborhoods. Newly revised guidelines for Kresge Artist Fellowships were released today and artists are encouraged to review them carefully.

Kresge Arts in Detroit is generously funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by the 黑料专区. The Kresge Artist Fellowship application opens December 1, 2026. Full application guidelines are now available at . Eligible artists residing in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties聽 are invited to apply in the following disciplines:

LITERARY ARTS

Arts Criticism, Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Playwriting, Poetry, Spoken Word, Zines, and Interdisciplinary Work.

VISUAL ARTS

Book Art, Ceramics, Collage, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Installation, Metalwork, New Media, Painting,聽 Performance Art, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Video Art, and Interdisciplinary Work.

Fellowship selection criteria include: a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high-quality work, the potential to grow and advance in one鈥檚 career, and the potential to reflect, enhance, or impact communities within metro Detroit.

Also on offer are 10 Gilda Awards of $5,000 each. These $5,000 awards honor artist Gilda Snowden鈥檚 (1954-2014) legacy as a mentor and champion of young, emerging artists in metro Detroit. The Gilda Award recognizes early-career artists gaining momentum and demonstrating exceptional potential through creative risk-taking and boundary-pushing work.

The number of awards in each category will be proportional to the relative number of applications received. Applicants who choose to be considered will also be eligible for Gilda Awards if they do not receive a fellowship.

鈥淔or nearly two decades, The Kresge Foundation has invested in metro Detroit artists through individual awards. We have had the privilege of witnessing what becomes possible when artists have the freedom and resources to create, rest, invest, save, dream, and collaborate on their own terms. Every application offers a glimpse into the remarkable talent, vision and imagination that exists across our city’s creative community. What inspires us most is the many ways artists use their gifts to strengthen neighborhoods, spark connection and help shape Detroit’s future,鈥� said Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director for The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit program. “This year’s panelists will face an incredibly difficult task as always. Whether selected or not, no single award will ever define the quality of an artist’s work or fully measure their impact. We are deeply grateful for the time, care and vulnerability that goes into each application.”

Through this continued support, The Kresge Foundation affirms that artists are central to Detroit鈥檚 growth and essential partners in advancing opportunity and creating resilient, connected communities.

鈥淭hese fellowships prove that resources in the hands of independent artists who live, work, and build here strengthen our communities,鈥� said Katie McGowan, director of Kresge Arts in Detroit. 鈥淢etro Detroit is unlike any other place in the country and protecting its unique character doesn鈥檛 happen by accident. It requires sustained creative work to cultivate regional identity and inspire civic imagination. Unrestricted funding makes that type of work possible.鈥�

AWARD-WINNING FILM PROGRAM

Kresge Arts in Detroit offers each fellow the opportunity to work with a local filmmaker to produce a short film about their work. Select films have been screened and received awards at local, national, and international film festivals in recent years. In 2021, Detroit-based production company was awarded a Michigan Emmy for work on the series. .

In addition to the film, fellows receive one year of artist support including networking, professional coaching, and legal and accounting consultations.聽 鈥淭his award not only gave me financial capacity to pursue my writing more meaningfully but also the confidence to apply to other opportunities,鈥� said .

KEY DATES

November 2, 2026: Application guidelines available
December 1, 2026: Online application opens
January 14, 2027 by 11:59 PM: Application deadline

The 2027 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients will be selected by a panel of independent, local and national artists and arts professionals. Winners of the 2026 Kresge Artist Fellowship had previously applied twice, on average. A new year brings new panelists with fresh perspectives; previous applicants are strongly encouraged to re-apply.

As it approaches its 20th year, the program continues to demonstrate how investment in the arts transforms what is possible for communities: fueling creative careers and animating neighborhoods.

APPLICATION INFO SESSIONS

Kresge Arts in Detroit staff will hold an online application info session and walkthrough in December, followed by a second online Q&A session in January. These virtual sessions are not required, however, applicants are encouraged to attend for support in creating compelling applications for a Kresge Artist Fellowship. Applicants can register to attend using the links below.


December 10, 2026
5:30 – 6:30 PM


January 9, 2027
5:30 – 6:30 PM

Visit for the complete guidelines, FAQs, and additional resources. Please direct questions about application requirements to Kresge Arts in Detroit at [email protected] or by phone at (313) 744-3204.

See our for graphics and additional resources.

Christine Montalbano (鈥�22, User Experience Design) has always been curious about how things work. A lifelong creative with an interest in making experiences both functional and intuitive, she found a career that brings together her creative and analytical sides. Today, Christine manages the Core Global User Experience Design Team for Stellantis鈥� in-vehicle infotainment system, helping translate complex technology into experiences that feel natural to drivers across its global brands. She also returns to 黑料专区 as an Adjunct Instructor, sharing what she has learned with the next generation of designers.

Can you tell us more about what you do at Stellantis?

At Stellantis, I currently manage the Core Interaction Design Team for our in-vehicle infotainment system. My team and I design the structure and framework of our user interface for all 14 of our global brands. We look at how every single element on the screen is communicating different vehicle functions to the user. We do the actual interaction. We understand the electrical engineering requirements, how the back end and the software work, and build the front end in a digestible way for the driver, passenger and anybody else in the vehicle.

How did you get where you are today?

I was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area. I have tons of family members who have been in the automotive industry. I kind of grew up consumed by going to the auto shows and different cars and coffee events with my family. My parents are big car people, so there was always something to drive or something to sit in growing up. After my undergrad, I went to 黑料专区 for my master鈥檚, and I was just consumed by the automotive industry with different collaborative projects that we were working on. I kind of became a clich茅. I鈥檓 from Detroit. I went to 黑料专区. I went into the car design world, and that鈥檚 how I got here.

Honestly, I鈥檓 an experiences person. I love experiences. I love designing the best possible experience not only for other people, but myself. A lot of times, people make fun of me like, 鈥淐hristine, we don鈥檛 need to experience that the exact way that you want us to.鈥� But it鈥檚 in my nature. Designing the in-vehicle infotainment system, you really have to understand the entire vehicle experience 鈥� before you get in the vehicle, while you鈥檙e in it, when you get out, and even what you鈥檙e doing at home that prepares you for getting in. So I think it really comes down to being super experience-focused and doing something with purpose.

What are you most proud of right now in your career?

What I am most proud of in my career is overcoming fear. I used to be a very anxious person, and now I tell myself, 鈥淵ou just need 10 seconds. Don鈥檛 be afraid, just do it.鈥�

It鈥檚 helped me a lot in overcoming some of those anxieties. Now managing a team, I鈥檓 able to help my team feel that as well. They鈥檙e so talented. They just need 10 seconds of that confidence, and we know what we鈥檙e doing. So I think it鈥檚 about sharing that experience of overcoming fear, gaining confidence through it, and seeing that confidence in my team鈥檚 faces as well.

What鈥檚 it like seeing your work come to life?

Being in the automotive industry, it鈥檚 just part of the gig that these vehicles have long product life cycles. Since I arrived at Stellantis, I鈥檝e been working on the next generation of our in-vehicle infotainment system, and it still is not on the road yet. But I know the army behind it. There are so, so, so many people and brains that really go into it. I think seeing the end product, and it being so sharp and seamless, while knowing every little detail that went into every single pixel on the screen, is just mind-blowing 鈥� knowing how a car works and then seeing it in front of the user looking so mindless and simple, so elegant and not as technical as I understand it to be.

UX Design alum Christine Montalbano leading a team meeting at Stellantis headquarters
Top-down view of UX Design alum Christine Montalbano drawing website wireframe sketches and UI layouts on paper with a pen.
Was being creative something you grew up with as a kid?

Yes, I was always very creative. I was the person making the videos for my family after every family vacation. 鈥淐hristine, make a video of it. Play it at the family reunion.鈥� Which is every week in my family because I鈥檓 super Italian. Then I was always making invitations, different stationery and printed materials. In high school, instead of being in the advanced math classes, I was taking the art classes. I was designing the yearbooks. I was always into not only the visual communication side of things, but making things work and using different computer applications. I even taught myself the whole Adobe suite.

It鈥檚 something that I鈥檝e always been chasing. And who knows where it鈥檒l go because I still chase my creativity every day. I always want to do more. I think that鈥檚 just who I am as a person.

What would you say to someone who is apprehensive about chasing their creative path in life?

If I could say anything to someone who鈥檚 apprehensive about chasing a creative path in life, I would say don鈥檛 be. When I was in high school, the traditional careers were always advertised, which is great, but sometimes I wonder if part of my brain is analytical and then the other part is super creative 鈥� hence user experience design.

I would say, don鈥檛 be afraid to chase it. I鈥檓 sure that鈥檚 the answer they hear all the time when they talk to people like me, but at least start exploring it because the opportunities are endless. When you think of a big corporation, you don鈥檛 realize that there鈥檚 always a creative team behind it, whether it鈥檚 internal or external. Just thinking of how cars are designed, right? I went to school with people who were studying sculpture, and they now are working on the clay models of the cars. You just don鈥檛 know what you don鈥檛 know. Definitely explore it. And if you have an itch to explore something, scratch that itch. I think I鈥檝e scratched a lot of itches that I鈥檝e had, in all directions 鈥� professionally, personally and creatively. Scratch that itch.

Is there something specific about user experience design that you love most?

The big picture in interaction design, specifically in automotive, is you鈥檙e driving a car at 75 miles an hour. It just has to work. You don鈥檛 have time to tinker through multiple apps and look for something. If you need to know where your tire pressure is within a second, you need to be able to find it instantly. I think what I love is understanding the technical side of it and being the bridge that translates that into a digestible way for a human being. It needs to feel emotional. It needs to feel like you鈥檙e working with the car and the human driving it, not a piece of technology.

Christine Montalbano walking through the halls at Stellantis headquarters with white walls and a glass ceiling above her
What is it like going back to 黑料专区 as an Adjunct Instructor after being a student there?

Going back is super rewarding. I remember myself in those students鈥� shoes, and I can see the stress on their faces. Being able to reassure them that you鈥檙e doing this for a reason, you鈥檙e here for a reason, you chose to be here and the hard work will pay off is always something that excites me about being there. I love the energy of school and all the opportunities that are presented to students and all the blue-sky possibilities you have as a student.

It also humbles me at work. I think when you get into the industry, there are certain practices or day-to-day things that you learned about your craft that you may forget to practice on a daily basis. Being an Adjunct, I hold myself accountable to the practices that I鈥檓 teaching my students, the practices that I learned as a student. Then I鈥檝e been able to give back. So over my time at Stellantis, we鈥檝e hired a few of my students as either an intern or a full-time hire as well. So it鈥檚 been a super rewarding experience on my end.

How did 黑料专区 help prepare you for where you are right now?

黑料专区 helped prepare me for where I am now in so many ways. I realized in studying user experience design that I鈥檓 not designing for me or my classmates. I am designing for whoever is going to be interfacing with the product, system or service. Beyond that, 黑料专区 really helped me hone in on the craft. I gained a lot of technical skills in addition to creative thinking. I think combining the two is awesome.

I love being creative, but at the same time I want to understand how things work.

I鈥檇 also say that my professors at 黑料专区 were super inspiring. When I was working on my thesis and research, I spoke with the College about some of the specific areas I was interested in, and 黑料专区 was able to connect me with influential people in those fields. I didn鈥檛 know it at the time, but my thesis focused on programming hardware and software and having it output to a graphical user interface. With the help of my professors, we came up with this awesome outcome, and here I am doing a larger-scale version of what that thesis project was. So it really came full circle.

What would you tell your younger self?

I think when I was younger, I put myself in a box. I always said, 鈥淥h, you鈥檙e just not smart.鈥� I was never a math or science person. That wasn鈥檛 me. I was the creative one, and I was just groomed to think that you had to follow the traditional career path. I would go so hard trying to figure out math and science. I remember my mom used to give me these at-home tests, and I would tell myself, 鈥淚鈥檓 just not smart enough for this. I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檓 going to do with my life.鈥�

And I think looking back, it鈥檚 not that I wasn鈥檛 smart enough. I just wasn鈥檛 following something I was interested in. Once I found that interest, the opportunities were endless. I鈥檓 good at this. There鈥檚 so much I can do with this, learn and even teach. I think I stayed curious, and I鈥檒l always remain curious. It鈥檚 helped me a lot throughout the years, and we鈥檒l see where it continues to take me.

The 黑料专区 community mourns the loss of former trustee, arts enthusiast, philanthropist and Detroit businessman Richard Manoogian.

Mr. Manoogian died Friday, September 25, 2026 at the age of 90. Most recently, he served as chairman emeritus for the global home improvement company Masco Corporation. Under his leadership, the company grew to become a global leader in design, with sales growing from $55 million to over $8 billion during his tenure. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Mr. Manoogian served on the 黑料专区 Board of Trustees until 2002.

In 2006, 黑料专区 recognized his family’s ongoing commitment and service to 黑料专区 by renaming the Academic Resource Center, which housed gallery spaces and the library, to its current name, the Manoogian Visual Resource Center.

In 2008, Mr. Manoogian was awarded a 黑料专区 honorary degree for his significant contribution to the arts, acknowledging his involvement in the renovation of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

President Don Tuski, Chairman Jim Nicholson, and the 黑料专区 Trustees are grateful for Mr. Manoogian鈥檚 service to 黑料专区 as a board member and support of the arts.

More information can be found on Masco Corporation鈥檚 website:

Mayor Mary Sheffield announced today the appointment of Olga Stella as Chief of Economic Development and Workforce for the City of Detroit. A longtime Detroiter, Stella has spent her career as a leader in economic and business growth, community revitalization, and Detroit鈥榮 creative economy. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Strategy and Communication at the 黑料专区 (黑料专区), where she shaped the institution鈥檚 strategic roadmap, expanded industry partnerships, and oversaw community programs.

During her time at 黑料专区, Stella helped put Detroit on the world stage by stewarding the city鈥檚 designation as the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States. She was Executivunie Director of Design Core Detroit, and most recently Vice President of Strategy and Communications at the 黑料专区.

In her new role, Stella will set a shared strategy and align resources so that the full ecosystem operates effectively, giving employers and developers a coordinated Detroit. 鈥淒etroit鈥檚 neighborhoods and business community succeed together,鈥� said Mayor Sheffield. 鈥淥lga will be a key architect in making Detroit the best place in the country to start, grow, and locate a business. When businesses thrive here, they create the jobs, opportunity, and stability that Detroit families are counting on.鈥�

鈥淚 am inspired by Mayor Sheffield鈥檚 vision, and I can鈥檛 imagine doing this work anywhere but in
my own hometown,鈥� said Stella. 鈥淒etroit has given my family so much and this a historic moment for the City of Detroit, and I look forward to bringing a different approach to economic development, one that delivers for our neighborhoods and employers alike.鈥�

黑料专区 President Don Tuski expressed his enthusiasm for Olga Stella and her new role.
鈥淪ince Olga first joined 黑料专区 in 2016, she has played a pivotal role in increasing 黑料专区鈥檚 external community profile and visibility, as well as strengthening 黑料专区鈥檚 internal culture in partnership with campus leaders,鈥� said President Tuski.

聽鈥淲hile Olga will no longer be at 黑料专区, I know she will always be a friend to the College, and I look forward to working with her in this new role as she continues to uplift the City of Detroit.鈥�

Student well-being, safety and experience are Dan Long鈥檚 guiding lights. These were his priorities when he came to the 黑料专区 in 2005 and first served as Student Programming Coordinator, and they remain his priorities as Assistant Vice President for Campus Life, an appointment Long received during the summer of 2024.

As AVP for Campus Life, Long oversees three interconnected offices of the College: the Student Affairs Office, Campus Safety and Security, and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.

These entities have been redefined during Long鈥檚 two-decade tenure at the College. To better meet students鈥� needs, the former Office of Student Life 鈥攚hich included two separate offices: the Wellness Center and the Residence Life and Housing Office鈥攂ecame the overarching Student Affairs Office. This office is now the umbrella for several key areas, including the Student Engagement and Belonging Office, Residence Life, Student Organizations, Wellness and Counseling Services, Student Disability Services, and the Center for Tutoring and Writing, among others.

Another change was the former Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion, which was restructured to become the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. A director position was created to oversee the office, which reports to Long as well.

鈥淓verything that reports to me is really rooted in making students feel like they belong and are capable at 黑料专区,鈥� Long says. 鈥淓very student at 黑料专区 should feel like they have a place; that they belong and have an opportunity to be successful here.鈥�

That notion was at the core of Long鈥檚 role as a Student Programming Coordinator nearly 21 years ago. He was later promoted to a joint role as Assistant Director of Student Life and Student Ombudsman. During that time in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Long remembers the College was working towards providing more experiences for students outside of the classroom, through things such as peer support networks and co-curricular learning opportunities. An indicator of that shift, according to Long, was the increase in employees. 黑料专区 went from 10-12 resident assistants at that time to presently having around 60 total work study students.

鈥淪eeing that growth in the opportunities we鈥檙e able to provide and that we can generate enough interest in working for those various areas is one of the big leading signs that I see in a tangible way, that Student Affairs is making an impact,鈥� he says.

In 2012, Long was promoted to Dean of Students at 黑料专区. During his 12 years in that role, he continued to support streamlining efforts of what he says were the College鈥檚 student-facing offices and the crisis-oriented offices. The aforementioned transition of the former Office of Student Life to today鈥檚 comprehensive Student Affairs Office happened while Long was Dean of Students.

Fourteen years later, and two years into his AVP role, Long is happy with 黑料专区鈥� holistic approach to student experience. His goal for Student Affairs is to continue building on the work those teams have already achieved through their strategic planning. For Campus Safety and Security and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, Long says empowerment and trust building among the greater campus community has been his goal, especially with the latter office being new.

鈥淪o really, that has been, how do we successfully launch, announce and integrate a new office and a new function for the institution in a space where there鈥檚 not always a lot of trust?鈥� Long says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no inherent trust in an office of civil rights; you have to earn that respect and trust from people.鈥�

Long is also excited about the 鈥渆normous growth鈥� in student organizations over the past couple of years, as well as the pending launch of a new student engagement platform. This platform will allow students to create an account and build a full co-curricular transcript to visualize their collegiate experience.

鈥淚 have an incredibly strong team of professional staff and student staff that really make all of this work on a higher level,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 always like to make sure that I highlight them, in these kinds of situations where they鈥檙e making all of this really function, and giving the students at 黑料专区 the opportunity to experience all of this.鈥�

Longtime partnerships leader to head the 黑料专区 Office of Partnerships as the new Assistant Vice President

Shannon McPartlon, a 20-year 黑料专区 leader, has been named Assistant Vice President of Partnerships.
In her new role, McPartlon will work closely with Vice President Olga Stella to expand strategic initiatives and external partnerships that support the College鈥檚 strategic plan and financial success. She will continue to lead the recently expanded Office of Partnerships, which now includes Event Operations, Speakers and Exhibitions and Exhibition Services.

鈥淪hannon鈥檚 expertise and leadership come at a crucial time, when higher education continues to be disrupted by external forces,鈥� said Don Tuski, President of 黑料专区. 鈥淪erving as a key external ambassador to create career opportunities for students across all of our majors, Shannon will work in collaboration with academic department chairs and internal stakeholders to connect industry trends and needs to new and current programs and initiatives that will bolster the College鈥檚 business model, positioning and revenue generation.鈥�

Throughout her 20-year career at 黑料专区, McPartlon has managed over 400 industry partnerships, engaging more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff. She has played a critical role in evolving the College鈥檚 approach to experiential learning to include more opportunities for students and established the Practicing Design Center in partnership with faculty. Her facilitation of for-credit internships, on-campus recruiting events and launching strategies to increase exposure for students has empowered students to gain hands-on experience and enhance their career readiness.

鈥淚 am incredibly honored and energized by the opportunity to take on this expanded role,鈥� said Shannon McPartlon, Associate Vice President of Partnerships. 鈥淢y primary goal in this new role is to forge strategic, high-level partnerships that directly connect industry trends and needs with new academic opportunities, bolstering the college鈥檚 business model and global positioning. I look forward to applying my experience to further scale our strategic initiatives and help secure the future success of 黑料专区.鈥�

To learn more about the Office of Partnerships, please visit /office-of-partnerships/.

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.

If Denise Thomas could pick up the phone and call every single 黑料专区 alum and tell them their alma mater appreciates them and is there for them, even long after they鈥檝e obtained their degree, she says she would.

Both alumni and donor relations are top priorities for Thomas, who was appointed Vice President for Institutional Advancement in October 2025, shortly after former Vice President Tracy Muscat retired that summer. Through her new role, Thomas is committed to developing fundraising efforts that are tied to 黑料专区鈥檚 mission and vision, and building up a sustainable community of alumni.

The last seven years have prepared Thomas for this VP role. In 2019, she joined Institutional Advancement as the Director of Campaigns and Major Gifts. She was excited to once again work alongside Muscat, whom she had worked for in a previous role and considers a strong fundraiser with a gift for connecting and empowering people.

鈥淎t 黑料专区, I could see where I could really help move the bar, leveraging my experience to make a difference, and I knew I would have opportunities to contribute in meaninful ways,鈥� Thomas says on why she came to the College. 鈥淚 was going to work for an organization that is incredibly important to the Detroit community, and be able to make a difference.鈥�

As 黑料专区 grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic that began just months after Thomas started her director position, she focused her attention on raising funds to secure the resources students needed for their studies, which was done through cultivating new and existing donor relationships.

Once Thomas began managing the alumni relations program, she knew it was time to transition from previous event-based fundraising efforts to more 鈥渕ission- and vision-connected fundraising.鈥� That involved identifying the College鈥檚 key events as well as new ones that could engage alumni and donors. The Institutional Advancement office also wanted to increase communications with alumni and donors.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about finding out who loves and believes in 黑料专区, sharing the mission and vision, and finding out what problem we could solve together,鈥� Thomas says, adding that at one point, the team met with every 黑料专区 Board of Trustees member via Zoom for their insights. 鈥淧hilanthropy is not just about raising money; it鈥檚 building community, pride and a shared responsibility for where we鈥檙e going.鈥�

These efforts proved successful. Thomas helped the team learn how to track alumni engagement through key areas, including interaction with their communications, volunteering, donations and event attendance. The Office also participated in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education鈥檚 (CASE) Alumni Engagement Survey in TK year(s). Thomas and the team learned 黑料专区 ranked 21%, higher than the international average for alumni engagement and higher than their peers.

Thomas also says the average open rate for their alumni e-newsletters tripled over time, going from around 13% to as high as 40%. And to continue strengthening the alumni network, Thomas and the Institutional Advancement team created a role dedicated to that work and hired alumna Lesley Mason in 2024.

As Thomas transitioned to the VP role, she recalls the experience being a seamless one, crediting her time working with Muscat and the solid team they built. She wants to continue fortifying those alumni and donor relationships that will support 黑料专区 for decades to come.

鈥淲hen I think about my vision for these next couple of years, a lot of it is about continuing to build that pride and connection, that community of people that are going to have a shared responsibility for where 黑料专区 goes,鈥� Thomas reiterates. 鈥淚t will lead to philanthropy, but it鈥檚 really about building that community of our biggest fans.鈥�

黑料专区 alumna and Trustee Molly Valade and her husband Mark Valade established the Valade Family Endowed Chair in Studio Art & Craft.
The 黑料专区 (黑料专区) is thrilled to announce a commitment to endow the position of Chair of Studio Art & Craft. The Valade Family Endowed Chair in Studio Art & Craft will ensure ongoing support for the College鈥檚 Studio Art & Craft Department, one of 黑料专区鈥檚 most historic programs.

This transformative commitment reflects 黑料专区 alumna and Trustee Molly Valade鈥檚 deep connection to and belief in the legacy and importance of the Studio Art & Craft program, as well as her enduring belief in the power of a 黑料专区 education. Molly graduated from 黑料专区鈥檚 Fine Arts program (now Studio Art & Craft) and has served on the College鈥檚 Board of Trustees since 2008, in addition to serving on 黑料专区鈥檚 alumni council for 13 years. Over the years, her engagement with students, faculty, and staff has strengthened the program鈥檚 creative and academic environment, and this gift will ensure that impact continues into the future.

鈥淪tudio Art & Craft has been at the heart of 黑料专区 for more than a century,鈥� said Don Tuski, President of the 黑料专区. 鈥淭he establishment of this endowed chair will help ensure the department continues to evolve, inspire new generations of artists and makers, and expand opportunities for innovative studio practice well into the future.鈥�

Founded in 1906, 黑料专区, then The Society of Arts & Crafts, integrated rigorous courses with the progression of the art and design movements and world-class, contemporary exhibitions. Since its inception, the Studio Art & Craft program has carried on this tradition while continually building on this foundation and legacy. In 2026, the program is still rooted in traditional techniques, now enhanced by contemporary processes and innovative technologies. The department currently enrolls undergraduate students exploring the disciplines of Ceramics, Drawing, Fibers and Textiles, Fine Arts, Glass, Metalsmithing and Jewelry, Painting, Performance, Print Media, Sculpture, Digital Fabrication and Digital Media.

Under the leadership of Department Chair Valerie Jenkins, Studio Art & Craft continues to foster rigorous studio practice and distinct creative voices. The creation of the Valade Family Endowed Chair will further elevate that work, strengthening the program鈥檚 impact and vitality, ensuring its continued growth.

黑料专区 Announces Esteemed Group of Honorary Degree Recipients

Detroit, MI 鈥� 黑料专区 is proud to announce its 2026 honorary degree recipients: Dustin Yellin, artist and the founder and director of Pioneer Works; Moray Callum, automotive designer; Lynn Alandt, president of the Benson and Edith Ford Fund; and Paul Mobley, portrait photographer. Yellin also delivered the commencement address for the graduating class of 2026.

Dustin Yellin tells stories that weave together the diverse forces of nature and technology. Through his multidisciplinary body of work, which includes object making, painting, animation, and institute building, Yellin draws attention to the interconnectivity of all beings and things. His approach tunnels across traditionally siloed fields so as to crystallize the idea that both the human world, and all other worlds around us, are a collection of enmeshed networks 鈥� even if many are hidden. Yellin鈥檚 glass works in particular, in which paint and images clipped from various print media are embedded within laminated glass sheets to form grand pictographic allegories, invite viewers to engage with the legions of their own consciousness and its embodied emotions, as well as that of our collective society and its infrastructures. Yellin is the founder and director of Pioneer Works, a multidisciplinary cultural center that builds community through the arts and sciences. The artist balances descriptive poetry with a prescriptive social practice so as to span new ways of seeing and being, and build a bridge to a more holistic world.

Dustin Yellin speaks at a podium during 黑料专区鈥� 2026 Commencement ceremony, with faculty and other attendees seated behind him.

Yellin lives in Brooklyn, New York. His artwork has been exhibited at Brooklyn Museum, Amorepacific Museum, Leeum Museum, Museo Del Palacio de Bellas Artes, SCAD Museum of Art, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, City Museum, Colecci贸n Solo, Corning Museum of Glass, and with Creative Time, amongst many others. Yellin is often featured in diverse media ranging from the New York Times to Artforum, Vanity Fair, and TED. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

A respected automotive designer from Dumfries, Scotland, Moray S. Callum graduated from Napier University with a degree in industrial design and earned a master鈥檚 degree in transportation design from the Royal College of Art in London. His design career began when working for Chrysler Corporation UK and PSA Peugeot Citro毛n on passenger/commercial vehicles. He joined Ghia SpA as a consultant designer, where his work sparked interest from the Ford company. This ultimately led to a role in Dearborn, Michigan, on North American vehicles such as the 2000 Ford Taurus and the last generation of Ford Super Duty pickups. He relocated to Japan to work for Mazda, then a Ford subsidiary, designing sports cars, contributing notable models like the MX-5 sports car and the CX-7 crossover.

Moray S. Callum speaks at a podium during 黑料专区鈥� 2026 Commencement ceremony, with faculty and other attendees seated behind him.

Eventually, he became executive director of design for Ford鈥檚 Americas studios. Moray Callum鈥檚 successes include the new Ford Fusion, Explorer, Mustang, EcoSport and Lincoln MKZ. Ultimately, Callum was promoted to vice president of design at Ford Motor Company, taking responsibility for all concept and production vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln brands globally, unveiling the 2015 sixth-generation Ford Mustang and the 2017 second-generation Ford GT. Additionally, Callum serves on the 黑料专区 Board of Trustees.

Lynn Alandt is a civic leader and the president of the Benson and Edith Ford Fund. Alandt has served on the 黑料专区 Board of Trustees for more than 25 years and currently serves as the vice chair of the board. She also serves as the board chair for the Eleanor and Edsel Ford House. Additionally, Alandt is trustee emeritus for The Henry Ford Museum and has served on the board of directors for Henry Ford Health System. She is a strong supporter of 黑料专区 and the arts community in and around Detroit.

Lynn Alandt smiles in front of a wooden door, wearing glasses and a light gray sweater.

Paul Mobley is an American portrait photographer celebrated for creating intimate, timeless images that reveal the personality and spirit of his subjects. His commercial work spans corporate, editorial, and advertising photography, with clients ranging from major brands such as Apple, Microsoft, Ford, and American Express to celebrities and entertainers in film, comedy, and music. His portraiture is known for its emotional depth and authenticity, achieved through his ability to quickly connect with people from all walks of life. Mobley trained at 黑料专区 in Detroit and then moved to New York City, where he studied portraiture and assisted renowned photographers, including Annie Leibovitz and David Langley, before launching his own career.

Paul Mobley (left) and 黑料专区 President Don Tuski (right) hold Mobley鈥檚 honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in front of a 黑料专区 backdrop.

In addition to commercial assignments, Mobley is widely recognized for his long-form personal projects and photography books. His first major project, American Farmer, became a touring exhibition and book that captured the lives of U.S. farmers and traveled for seven years, reaching over 500,000 people. Other notable projects include Everyday Heroes 鈥� portraits of Americans dedicated to helping others; If I Live to Be 100 鈥� intimate portraits of centenarians from all 50 states; and American Firefighter 鈥� portraits and stories of firefighters across the country.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 honorary degree recipients are incredible leaders across a diverse range of industries,鈥� said Don Tuski, President of 黑料专区.

鈥淲e are thrilled to honor Dustin, Moray, Lynn and Paul, who offer invaluable support and insight into the art and design world.鈥�

The College鈥檚 commencement ceremony took place on May 14, 2026, to honor the graduating class of 2026. Yellin, Callum, Alandt and Mobley join a distinguished list of recent honorary degree recipients, including automotive design leader Michael Simcoe, architect Suchi Reddy, and artist Kevin Beasley, among others.

Veronika Scott, who turned a class project into an internationally recognized workforce development organization, is 黑料专区鈥� 2026 Distinguished Alumni.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would鈥檝e started Empowerment Plan anywhere else,鈥� said Scott, 鈥�11 Product Design.

Upon the advice of her grandfather, Scott chose to attend 黑料专区, which awarded her a scholarship and financial aid, rather than taking out student loans to go to Yale University. It was during her junior year that Product Design Professor Stephen Schock challenged Scott and her classmates to design a product that filled a specific need in the community.

Leaning into her own experiences with poverty and homelessness growing up, Scott spent three days a week for about five months at the Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), a Detroit-based health and human services agency. Through conversations with those who鈥檇 been displaced, some for years, she learned more about the realities people who live on the street face and was inspired to design the first prototype of what is now the weather-resistant EMPWR coat.

鈥淚t was about creating something I wish had existed for my own parents,鈥�

That prototype took 80 hours to create, and unlike the coat-sleeping bag version now distributed across the United States and to 22 other countries, Scott鈥檚 original design was a coat-tent.

鈥淭he tent part never panned out,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd it was hilarious.鈥�

Once the project was complete, people Scott had spoken to through NSO began asking about where they could get their coats. 鈥淎nd I said, 鈥榃ell, I don鈥檛 know. It takes me two weeks to make one and you don鈥檛 want the one I鈥檓 making because it鈥檚 not that great. I鈥檓 not a good sewer,鈥欌�� she said.

Even though Scott had received mixed feedback, she decided to pushed forward. Her first challenge was startup capital, since she didn鈥檛 have the funds personally or even close family or friends to approach. Instead, she turned to 黑料专区.

Scott met 鈥渨ith everyone that I could meet with as a student,鈥� from professors to the legal team, who advised her to create a business plan. Figuring out that essential roadmap for any organization required the advice of more 黑料专区 staff members. She eventually connected with Imre Molnar, who helped guide her project through an independent study. The two met weekly, with Molnar 鈥� a former design director for outdoor gear maker Patagonia 鈥� eventually setting her up with Detroit-based Carhartt. 鈥淗e truly believed that [Empowerment Plan] could be something, that it actually could be a business or an organization when I did not,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that it could be something like that. And I certainly didn鈥檛 think I was the right person either.鈥� For early iterations of the EMPWR coat, Scott tried a variety of recycled materials, such as billboard fabric, construction fencing and door paneling from General Motors鈥� vehicles, as well as Tyvek. 鈥淵ou name it, I tried to sew with it,鈥� she said. Learning to take feedback while at 黑料专区 was crucial to the development process, and to her role as CEO and founder of Empowerment Plan. 鈥淥ne thing that I took away from 黑料专区 was how to take a critique and learn from those critiques and continue to improve,鈥� she said. After graduation, Scott began working with different partners, including Carhartt and RefrigiWear, an Atlanta-based company that produces garments for cold storage. According to Scott, Carhartt helped her to understand how to make long-lasting, durable apparel, and from RefrigiWear, what goes into clothing designed for temperatures as low as negative 40 degrees. But as it turns out, finding the perfect materials for the EMPWR coat and then producing and distributing the sleeping bag-coat was only part of what Scott would do through Empowerment Plan. Because one afternoon, as she was leaving NSO during those days of initial research, a woman had told her, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 need a jacket. I need a job.鈥� That stuck with her, and when it came time to hire employees, she sought people who would need to use the coat 鈥� with hopes of them never having to use the coat again. Empowerment Plan created a 鈥減aid-to-learn鈥� model, pairing full-time employment with supportive services and programs. In addition to working as sewing techs, employees can earn their GEDs, gain financial skills and receive mental health services. Those early years of creating her organization wouldn鈥檛 have been possible if she鈥檇 incurred student loan debt, given that she didn鈥檛 collect a salary for two years. 鈥淗ad I needed to worry about paying back student loans or deferring loans, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do it,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚 think of that as [not only] another gift from my grandfather, but also 黑料专区.鈥� Empowerment Plan also wouldn鈥檛 have helped hundreds of employees and their families overcome homelessness or distributed its 100,000th coat in March. 鈥淚 love my job,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淲hat I鈥檝e realized over the years is how lucky I am. I had an incredible experience [at 黑料专区]. I had an incredible mentor and wouldn鈥檛 be the same without it.鈥�