Faculty Archives | ��ר��

Remembering the Legacy of Maria Luisa Rossi, Designer, Educator and Professor Emeritus

Megan Mesack — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:38:42 +0000

The ��ר�� Mourns the Loss of a Beloved Professor and Design Leader.

Maria Luisa Rossi, Professor Emeritus, passed away on November 4, 2025, after a long, brave battle. She is survived by her husband, Vincenzo Iavicoli, and children, Giulia and Matteo.

For 16 years, Maria Luisa served as the founding Chair and Professor for the College’s graduate System Design Thinking program. Known for her passion for education and design, she mentored and influenced the next generation of designers while establishing standards of excellence for ��ר��’s graduate programs. She cared deeply for her students and was committed to sharing her global perspective, human-centered design practices and strategic design vision to push students to address important local and worldwide challenges through social innovation. Maria Luisa formed many meaningful relationships with partners across the globe that helped advance her program and the careers of her students.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Maria Luisa. She was an impressive force at ��ר�� whose vision, creativity and dedication drove many important experiential learning projects and student success,” said Don Tuski, ��ר�� President. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and all who loved her.”

Her leadership at ��ר�� was essential in the College’s hosting of the Design for Adaptation Cumulus Conference in 2022. Cumulus is the leading global association of art and design education and research. As a long-standing Cumulus member, Maria Luisa chaired the Cumulus Conference for Detroit in 2022, bringing the College and city global exposure.

“Maria Luisa was utterly devoted to her students. And beyond that, her expertise and drive was vital in making the Cumulus Conference a success here at ��ר��,” said Ian Lambert, ��ר�� Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. “This conference not only elevated the College’s reputation but was also an excellent opportunity for our students to participate in diverse design and sustainability conversations and networking opportunities. We are forever grateful for the expertise and hard work she dedicated to making that conference a success.”

Maria Luisa and her husband Vincenzo were both awarded the title of Professor Emeritus upon retirement from ��ר�� for their valuable contributions made to the college and their students.

Prior to her time at ��ר��, Maria Luisa’s professional career was independent and international. She obtained her master’s degree in industrial design at Domus Academy in Milano, thanks to a European Scholarship she won from designing the first wearable computer and winning an international design competition. The wearable computer project, “The Walking Office”, can be found in the Henry Ford Museum Permanent Design Collection. Following her studies, she founded the design consultancy Iavicoli & Rossi, working in areas varying from interior architecture to tableware.

In addition to her hometown of Florence, Italy, Maria Luisa also considered Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Detroit as places she called home. She stayed engaged with the Detroit design community through Detroit’s UNESCO City of Design initiative, working on the vision for inclusive growth and providing guidance to its development.

The Maria Luisa Rossi Excellence in Graduate Research Award

Gifts in memory of Maria Luisa Rossi may be made to support the Maria Luisa Rossi Graduate Research Award. This fund was created by Maria Luisa’s former colleagues and friends to honor her legacy.

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��ר�� Interior Design faculty shares ways to lower your energy bill in the winter with HVAC Gnome

Megan Mesack — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 03:40:59 +0000

��ר�� Interior Design faculty Karin Abel joins HomeGnome to share expert tips on lowering your winter energy bills through smart insulation and HVAC efficiency.

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Lesley Mason Joins The ��ר�� as Director of Alumni Relations

Megan Mesack — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:36:08 +0000

DETROIT, MI – The ��ר�� is pleased to announce that Lesley Mason (‘08, Photography) has joined the department of Institutional Advancement as the Director of Alumni Relations. In this role, Lesley will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to engage alumni in meaningful ways with the College and each other, enhancing their involvement and support for the College’s vision.

Lesley brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously worked at the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative, where she supported their social media, crafted newsletters, helped coordinate events, worked with volunteers, and used her creative expertise to tell the story of the trail and its users. Lesley has also operated her own photography business for 20 years where she worked with individuals, corporations, and non-profits on branding, marketing, website design, and social media.

“We are thrilled to have Lesley join our team,” said Tracy Muscat, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the ��ר��. “Her experience in stakeholder engagement, social media, and creative storytelling will be invaluable as we work to engage our alumni and build an even stronger ��ר�� community.”

Lesley is excited to be joining the ��ר�� and is looking forward to working with the alumni community.��

“As a ��ר�� alumna, I’m filled with pride to step into the role of Director of Alumni Relations,” said Lesley. “It’s an incredible opportunity to continue my journey with the institution that has played a pivotal role in my life. I look forward to fostering meaningful alumni connections with the same passion and creativity that ��ר�� has inspired in me.”

ABOUT THE COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES

The ��ר�� (��ר��) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. ��ר��, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. ��ר�� fosters students’ 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.

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��ר�� Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2023

Megan Mesack — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:00:35 +0000

The ��ר�� is pleased to introduce a remarkable group of new faculty members, each bringing their unique expertise and passion to our academic community.

In the Foundations Department, Michelle Lannoo has been promoted from visiting Assistant Professor to full-time Associate Professor. Her dedication and exceptional performance during her initial year have earned her this recognition. Joining her are two more distinguished educators: Joshua Mulligan, who takes on the role of a full-time Drawing Instructor, and Ben Rosales, an accomplished teacher with extensive experience in computer animation, who is joining as full-time Assistant Professor. Additionally, Peter Dunn will serve as the Foundations 3D Design Shop Manager and Assistant Professor, responsible for shop facilities, faculty and student training, and curriculum development.

In the Liberal Arts Department, the College welcomes Myrtle A. Brooks, a Lecturer in Business Studies who brings a wealth of experience and a background in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan Dearborn and MIT. Joining her is Laura Kovick, who assumes the role of a Lecturer in Composition with impressive credentials, including graduate degrees in literature and the teaching of writing and a diverse range of published works. Completing the department’s new additions is Caleb Lalinsky, a Visiting Assistant Professor with expertise in composition, rhetoric, literature, and writing instruction.

In the Art Education Department, Dr. Jhih-yin “Diane” Lee joins ��ר�� as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Lee’s extensive background in art education, teacher certification, and curriculum development, coupled with her Ph.D. in Art/Art Education from the University of Georgia, make her a valuable addition to the department.

Within the Studio Art & Craft Department, the College welcomes Lena Ellis-Boatman, who assumes the role of Visiting Assistant Professor and Section Lead in Printmaking. Ellis-Boatman’s diverse skill set encompasses various art forms and a deep commitment to collaboration, community, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Finally, in the Entertainment Arts Department, Dylan VanWormer joins ��ר�� as a full-time Assistant Professor of Animation, specializing in 3D animation. VanWormer’s extensive experience, including work at Moonbot Studios and Walt Disney Studios, makes him a valuable asset to our animation emphasis.

��ר�� extends a warm welcome to all these talented individuals and looks forward to the significant contributions they will bring to our creative and academic community.

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Art Practice Faculty and Alumni Participate in Monumental Group Exhibition Celebrating Detroit’s Artistic Creativity

Megan Mesack — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 18:39:04 +0000

Bringing together 150 Detroit-based artists, Reyes | Finn Gallery puts on the largest exhibition in the gallery’s history — featuring 23 ��ר�� faculty members and alumni.

On display until May 6, the exhibition is dedicated to the creative life of Detroit, and to the significance of the region as a historical center of experimental art production. “Get Together” presents a dynamic look into Detroit’s contemporary moment.

The artists had creative freedom with their work that’s featured in this exhibition, with the only exception being the size of their piece.

“Detroit is a deeply generative and creative place,” says Bridget Finn (‘05), Reyes | Finn co-owner. “With this show, we wanted to devote time and space to creating opportunities to bring artists living and working here into each other’s orbit — to check in with each other and share more on what each of us are putting into the world.”��

○ Ebi Baralaye, Assistant Professor, Section Lead of Ceramic

○ Sofia Bicego (‘22)

○ Tyanna Buie, Assistant Professor, Section Lead of Printmaking

○ Taurus Burns (‘02)

○ Henry Crissman (‘12) and Adjunct Instructor, Ceramic

○ Maya Davis (‘22)

○ Clare Gatto, Adjunct, Art Practice

○ Kim Harty, Associate Professor, Section Lead of Glass

○ Scott Hocking (‘00)

○ Kaio Huvaere (‘22)

○ Valerie Jenkins, Professor, Chair of Art Practice & Craft and Material Studies

○ Chido Johnson, Professor, Section Lead of Sculpture

○ Levon Kafafian (‘14)

○ Faina Lerman (‘04)

○ Kylie Lockwood (‘05) and Adjunct Instructor, Art Practice

○ Eleanor Oakes, Assistant Professor, Photography

○ Kasper Ray O’Brien (‘15)

○ Rachel Pontius, Adjunct Instructor, Art Practice��

○ Nolan Simon (‘04)

○ Dylan Spaysky (‘07) and Adjunct Instructor, Art Practice

○ Jeffrey Tranchell (‘05)

○ Graem Whyte, Adjunct Instructor, Art Practice

○ Alison Wong, Adjunct Instructor, Liberal Arts and Art Practice

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Assistant Professor Tyanna Buie juror for 38th Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition

Megan Mesack — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:26:51 +0000

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��ר�� Faculty Members Contribute to PiCoDe International Publication of ‘Collective for Design’

Megan Mesack — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:15:35 +0000

��ר�� faculty members contributed to a recent publication of — which addresses the need to re-evaluate current teachings and learning practices.

The book aims to contribute to the preparation of art and design students for international labor markets, placing the issue of collectivity, locality, material provenance, and sustainability at the forefront of reflection.��

Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Ian Lambert’s, “Making with Ocean Plastic: Towards New Experiential Processes and Material Outcomes,” centers around the cultural aspects of beachcombing in island communities. He further addresses how they offer a narrative backdrop for exploring the socially responsible engagement with ocean plastic.

Chair of Color and Materials Design Melanie McClintock’s contribution titled, “Local Marketers: Material Narrative Through Place-Based Design Research,” focuses on practice-based research to explore materiality through human experience. Alongside this contribution to the book, McClintock also visited Turkey with second-year Color and Material Design student, Sarah Craven in 2022.

Craven was selected to participate in the third edition of in Turkey at the Eskişehir Osmangazi University, College of Art and Design, alongside a team of international students from Turkey, Portugal, and Poland. Together, they worked to design a prototype primarily made from meerschaum — a local material. Meerschaum or Sepiolite is a soft white clay mineral used for handcrafted tobacco pipes and jewelry. Students designed two prototypes, “Yasam” a plant habitat and “Midas” a tattoo machine.��

is an innovative teaching and learning methodology based on the collective experience of designs from a variety of creative specializations — working with students and professionals in the United States, Turkey, Poland, and Portugal.��

The PiCoDe method helps students learn how to collaborate with other creatives within various disciplines by creating and realizing a new product with the criteria to support promotion and distribution.��

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Assistant Professor Featured Among Renowned Artists in Printmaking Exhibition at the DIA

Megan Mesack — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:21:08 +0000

Assistant professor and section lead of printmaking at ��ר�� has work on display in an exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) — alongside national and local artists until April 9, 2023.

has two pieces featured in — “The Front Porch,” a screenprint and “Avalon Village,” a letterpress piece.��

“It is an honor to be acknowledged for my artistic contributions, and a privilege to be in such good company with so many of the historical and contemporary greats,” said Buie. “The DIA is home to so many of my favorite artists I grew up admiring. They are the reason I am an artist today.”

The exhibition is free to the public and celebrates a range of prestigious artwork by contemporary printmakers with more than 60 prints, posters, and artists’ books on display.

“This exhibition highlights the works of both established and emerging artists, many of whom have local connections,” said Clare Rogan, Curator of Prints and Drawings. “Visitors have the opportunity to explore the dynamic range of subject matter, technical innovation, and creativity of contemporary printmaking.”

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��ר�� Transportation Design Faculty React to Destiny 2 Sparrow Designs

Megan Mesack — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:37:45 +0000

��ר�� Chair of Transportation Design Paul Snyder and Assistant Professor Jason White were asked to comment and react to designs featured on the Destiny 2 multiplayer game.

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The ��ר�� Announces New Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Megan Mesack — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 17:24:35 +0000

The College recognizes artist and long-time educator Dr. Amy Ruopp as the new Dean of Undergraduate Studies��

The ��ר�� (��ר��) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Amy Ruopp as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, effective January 2, 2023.��

Ruopp came to ��ר�� in 2019 with 25 years of education experience in a K-12 setting, originally serving as Assistant Professor and Chair of the College’s Art Education program. She continues to serve in that capacity and in 2021 was named Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies as well. Recognizing her success and talent as an educator and the need for a Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the College appointed Ruopp as Dean of Undergraduate Studies in 2023.��

During her time as assistant dean, Ruopp oversaw the development of�� the new Mentorship program—which was created for students to connect with faculty, staff, alumni, and industry professionals during their time at ��ר��. She’s also written and launched the Master of Arts in Art Education program and supported other degree programs as needed.

“Amy’s experience as an artist and educator brings a needed and unique perspective to Academic Affairs and the overall leadership of ��ר��,” says Tim Flattery, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer. “She is an innovator and collaborator at the highest level and I am very excited for her to implement all her talents in this new role to help make ��ר�� the best art and design educational institution.”

Ruopp’s interests include the interconnected identities of the artist, researcher, and teacher—each identity informing and exploring the practice of the other. Her research focus follows three discrete, yet interrelated strands explored through Feminist New Materialism Theories: (a) within art education, the artist/researcher/teacher identities and making artistic learning visible, (b) developing innovative visual research methodologies which transcend traditional siloed learning and knowing and (c) creative research as data visualization and analysis. She explores the intersections of knowing between different disciplines and literacies, what that produces, and how it is put into practice in her recently published book through Routledge — “Encounters With Theory as Conceptual Medium and Creative Practice.”��

Ruopp received her Ph.D in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum with an emphasis in Art Education as well her Ed.S, and a qualitative research certificate from the University of Missouri. She earned a�� Master of Arts: Teaching and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

About The ��ר��

Located in the heart of Detroit, the ��ר�� (��ר��) is a world-class institution that educates artists and designers to be leaders in the creative professions. A private, fully accredited college, ��ר�� enrolls more than 1,400 students pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees.

Students in the BFA program can major in Advertising Design, Art Practice, Communication Design, Craft and Material Studies, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Design, Film, Illustration, Interdisciplinary Art + Design, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design and Transportation Design, in addition to a dual major Art Education program. Students in the graduate program can major in Art Education, Color and Materials Design, Design for Climate Action, Interdisciplinary Design Studies, Motion Design,Transportation Design and User Experience Design.��

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Faculty Archives | ����ר��

Remembering the Legacy of Maria Luisa Rossi, Designer, Educator and Professor Emeritus

The Maria Luisa Rossi Excellence in Graduate Research Award

����ר�� Interior Design faculty shares ways to lower your energy bill in the winter with HVAC Gnome

Lesley Mason Joins The ����ר�� as Director of Alumni Relations

����ר�� Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2023

Art Practice Faculty and Alumni Participate in Monumental Group Exhibition Celebrating Detroit’s Artistic Creativity

Bringing together 150 Detroit-based artists, Reyes | Finn Gallery puts on the largest exhibition in the gallery’s history — featuring 23 ����ר�� faculty members and alumni.