Pacific Northwest College of Art Welcomes New President, Donald L. Tuski
June 09, 2016
Portland, OR—June 9, 2016—Concluding a nationwide search, Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) is proud to welcome Dr. Donald L. Tuski as PNCA’s next President.
Since 2010, Dr. Tuski has served as President and Professor of Anthropology at Maine College of Art.
“We are impressed by Dr. Tuski’s enthusiastic advocacy for the value of an arts education not only for students but for society at large,” says PNCA Board of Governors Chair Craig Boretz. “And we are confident that his strong and collaborative leadership is a great fit for PNCA.”
Tuski comes to PNCA as the college has recently moved to center its campus on Portland’s North Park Blocks and launched the Center for Contemporary Art & Culture, with a rich program of exhibitions and public programs that are free and open to the public.
"I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to work with so many great people at PNCA,” says Dr. Tuski. "I am also looking forward to working with the wonderful community of Portland, Oregon. Artists and designers make society better, and art schools are a critical part of a strong, creative and inclusive community. I can't wait to get started!"
During Tuski’s tenure at Maine College of Art, the college increased enrollment by 22% and revenue by 39%. The college more than doubled philanthropic gifts, including support for the college’s first endowed professorship, for student scholarships, and for the launch of new programs in textiles and fashion design as well as a program focusing on the intersection of art and contemporary music. Throughout his time at the college, Tuski formed strong partnerships with other arts organizations and community members and groups.
Dr. Tuski received his BA in biology from Olivet College in 1985 and his MA (1988) and Ph.D. (1998) in Anthropology from Michigan State University. Don focused on education and politics for his MA degree and deindustrialization in the midwest for his Ph.D. Dr. Tuski spent nearly 30 years in administrative roles at Olivet, eventually serving as president before moving to Maine College of Art.
About Pacific Northwest College of Art
As the Northwest’s premier college of art and design since 1909, PNCA has helped shape the region’s visual arts landscape for more than a century. Today PNCA is a dynamic platform for 21st century art and design education at its new campus in the heart of downtown Portland. PNCA offers four BFA programs with 10 concentrations, six graduate programs within the Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies, and a Post-Baccalaureate program. pnca.edu