Hello, alums and friends,
As we prepare to welcome another academic year, I’m excited to share news that reflects PNCA’s ongoing commitment to innovation and the evolving needs of artists and designers. Just a few short weeks ago, we welcomed 156 new undergraduate and transfer students, along with 36 new graduate and post-bacc students.
This fall, we are continuing to strengthen the student experience at PNCA:
- We’ve added a new Student Affairs position focused on student clubs, leadership, and residence life.
- Thanks to our friends at the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation, we’ve expanded Academic Support with a Senior Academic Coach dedicated to study skills, time management, and writing.
- We’ve also added part-time staff in Accessible Education and Academic Support to provide more individualized help for students.
While we build these student-centered resources, our faculty is shaping new academic programs that respond to student interests and workforce demand in the region. Over the next three years, PNCA will expand undergraduate offerings in Design + Emerging Technologies, beginning with a BFA in Interaction Design.
This new program will prepare students to design how people engage with technology, spaces, and each other—leading to careers in:
- Website and UX/UI design
- Games and interactive media
- Wearable devices
- Wayfinding and public space engagement
To help launch this work, we are thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Sal Orara, whose expertise in product design, creative technology, and speculative design will guide this exciting program. Looking ahead, we are also exploring new master’s-level programs in Design and Illustration, with more updates to come this spring.
As we celebrate these new beginnings, we also acknowledge a profound loss. We enter this academic year without David Eckard, our long-serving Chair of Sculpture, who passed away suddenly in April. Over the summer, we have worked to ensure continuity and support for Sculpture students and faculty.
We are pleased to welcome Sarah Reagan as Visiting Assistant Professor in Sculpture. Under the leadership of Sr. Associate Dean Kate Copeland, we are conducting an external review of the Sculpture program and will be inviting alumni, outside scholars, and artists to share insights as we envision the future of PNCA’s 3D making programs.
Finally, I want to extend a warm invitation to join us for First Thursdays and on October 15 for the upcoming Warp Speed Panel & Alumni Happy Hour—a wonderful opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate the energy of our community. Warp Speed, our major fall exhibition, brings together six contemporary textile artists alongside works from the Museum of Contemporary Craft Collection. We are grateful to the Ford Family Foundation for supporting this important exhibition.
Events like these remind us that PNCA’s story is always unfolding, and that our alumni and friends are essential to its future.
With optimism and gratitude,
Jen Cole
Jordan Schnitzer Dean of the Pacific Northwest College of Art
