Letter from the President Dear friends, Our campuses have been enlivened this fall by the largest first-year class in the college’s history—248, which is 61 more students than last year! These young and talented people have embarked on the first leg of a lifelong journey of learning, social engagement, and creative growth. The increase in first-year enrollment is heartening to me because I believe there has never been a better, more exciting, and more relevant time to go to art school. Culture has always held an important place in our daily lives, and for more than a century now, young people have been drawn to CCA to help them become accomplished practitioners in the arts. What is new, however, is that today these young people are being asked to help solve the world’s thorniest problems—and they are responding with enthusiasm. Creative individuals trained in art, architecture, and design are finding enormous opportunities to apply their talents to social and environmental issues, frequently by teaming up with members of other skilled disciplines. We see this every day at CCA, as students participate in the Solar Decathlon, the Sustainable Cotton Project, or the Radical Jewelry Makeover (read more about these projects and others at www.cca.edu). CCA’s faculty continues to be at the forefront of these efforts, as you will read in this issue’s feature story on Jay Baldwin (page 3). These pages also highlight many other wonderful things that are happening at the college, including the inspiring endeavors of our alumni (page 37) and faculty (page 29). We are particularly delighted to announce the successful completion of the Centennial Campaign (page 23), which raised more than $27.5 million, exceeding our original goal of $25 million. Excitingly, of the 1,000 campaign donors, more than 500 were giving for the first time. Clearly the call for support of student scholarships, facility improvements, and academic programs resonated with the community. The founding ideals of the college—to create a place where the arts are deeply connected to social and political work—have never been more vibrantly alive. A collective spirit of enthusiasm has defined the beginning of this academic year. I hope that you are as excited as I am about our future. Sincerely,
Stephen Beal
President
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