Jeffrey D. Nesin, president emeritus of the Memphis College of Art (MCA), has been named provost of the School of Visual Arts (SVA), one of the nation’s largest colleges of art and design. Having led MCA through two decades of unprecedented growth, Nesin will return to the city where he grew up and the institution where he began his career in higher education, first as a member of the faculty and then as a member of the president’s cabinet.

“I am pleased to be able to work with Jeff again as we plan for the next decade of growth at SVA, strengthen the institutional structure, and continue to advance the faculty and curriculum,” said SVA President David Rhodes.

“At SVA I had the great privilege of working each day with faculty who were at the forefront of their fields,” said Nesin. “Nothing in education is as important as that, and it will be wonderful to be part of the SVA community again.”

Nesin, whose appointment begins July 1, succeeds Dr. Christopher J. Cyphers, who served as SVA’s provost before leaving to become president of the New York School of Interior Design in 2008.

Jeffrey D. Nesin grew up in New York City, where he attended the Manhattan School of Music and the Bronx High School of Science. After graduation from Hobart College, he studied at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned advanced degrees in English Literature and American Studies. He joined the faculty at SVA in 1974, teaching in the Department of Humanities and Sciences, and then served as advisor in the BFA Fine Arts Department. In 1982 he was appointed assistant to the president, a post he held simultaneously with that of director of special programs and chairman of the presidential staff. Among other duties, he worked closely with President Rhodes to develop institutional and governmental relations and establish the graduate programs.

Nesin left SVA in 1991 to become president of MCA, a position he held until December 2009. During his tenure the college saw the strongest growth in its history, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, largely driven by a refocused curriculum; a rise in regional and national visibility; the largest gifts in the college’s history, effectively quadrupling the endowment; and enlarging the campus footprint from one to twenty properties, including two purpose-built art student residences and a new Downtown Graduate School, through a master plan he oversaw.

A longtime supporter of creative cooperation among art colleges, Nesin helped found the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), served on the Executive Committee for over a decade, and has overseen its New York Studio Residency Program since its inception. A steady advocate for a national art education policy and the essential role the arts play in civic life, Nesin has testified before Congress three times in recent years. Involved with accreditation throughout his career, he continues to consult internationally, most recently in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and has served two terms on the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Commission on Accreditation and one term as its Chair and member of the NASAD Executive Committee.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the College has instituted numerous educational innovations, including the selection of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields as instructors. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.

Media Contact: For more information, please contact Michael Grant, director of communication, at 212.592.2011 or mgrant@sva.edu.

Photo courtesy of Combustion

The Educational Advertising Awards, sponsored by The Higher Education Marketing Report, is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the nation. This year, over two thousand entries were received from more than one thousand colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries.

LIM College’s logo/stationery and print advertisement both won Gold Awards, the College’s Open House video received a Bronze, and LIM College’s “Total Recruitment Package” (which included the admissions viewbook, travel brochure, folder, postcard series, campus visit invitation, poster, and student information card) was given a Merit award.

Educational advertising has matured into a sophisticated and competitive field. Entries in the competition were judged on their ability to meet the needs of knowledgeable prospective students who are making their own educational decisions. Judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consisted of national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of The Higher Education Marketing Report.

LIM College’s materials were designed and produced by Creative Communication Associates (CCA), an Albany, New York-based marketing and communications firm which works with a diverse array of colleges, universities, and specialty schools nationwide, including the University of Pennsylvania, American University, and Ball State University. CCA has been LIM College’s marketing partner since 2003.

In 2008, CCA began work on LIM College’s comprehensive rebranding effort. This included creating a new visual identity and tagline for LIM College, as well as a new series of undergraduate marketing communications pieces, and an advertising plan to build industry awareness and support student recruitment. CCA also consulted with the College’s web development firm to ensure cohesive creative execution between print and online communications.

Says Elizabeth S. Marcuse, President of LIM College, “We are thrilled to be recognized by the Educational Advertising Awards. When we began our rebranding process, we knew we needed to communicate LIM College’s unique message, identity, and visual brand representation in a way that was at once differentiating, memorable, and reflective of who we are — and these awards demonstrate that, in partnership with CCA, LIM College has been able to achieve those goals.”

Students from Bryant & Stratton's Albany campus participate in a rally to support student aid programs

Students from across New York descended on Albany today to celebrate two significant milestones – the 35th anniversary of the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the 40th anniversary of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).

Students from LIM College, Monroe College and The College of Westchester boarded a bus from New York City to join the rally, which had a dual goal of reminding lawmakers of the importance of sustaining public assistance for financially needy college students. Bryant & Stratton College also sent a delegation from the Capital District to the event, which was organized by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu).

The governor’s 2010-11 budget proposes cuts to TAP. The Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC) opposes these cuts and has scheduled a March 2 rally in Albany to ask lawmakers to continue investing in students through TAP.

“Having the administration, faculty and students under one roof is a positive move,” said Dr. David Warren, President of The Art Institute of New York City. “We will be better able to service our students, with faculty and staff never more than an elevator ride away,” he said.

With five programs in the areas of art & design, The Art Institute of New York City awards the Associate of Occupational Studies and Associate of Applied Science degrees.  Programs of study include Fashion Design, Interior Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Graphic Design and Video Production.

“We are fortunate to be located in the creative heart of the city, offering our students the opportunity to expand upon what they learn in school,” said David Moughalian, Dean of Academic Affairs.

The gallery on the first floor of 11 Beach Street is a showcase for students’ work.  Currently on display is the semi-annual juried Interior Design exhibition.  It is open to the public at no charge.