MIAD president contributes to The Chronicle of Higher Education

MIAD President Jeffrey Morin
Jeffrey Morin, president of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), spoke with The Chronicle of Higher Education for its August 2023 publication “Surviving as a Small College: Strategies for tough decisions.” Morin spoke on MIAD’s approach to budgeting and its successes in enrollment and retention.
As part of the college’s policy, MIAD is required to have a balanced budget each year. Morin explains his approach to maintaining a successful college while keeping in mind the limitations of the budget. “I always ask this question when I’m working with faculty and staff,” Morin is quoted in the article. “What can we do for nothing?” In this case, nothing just means less—such as finding a low-cost and heat-reducing roller blinds solution, making the building more comfortable for students, staff, faculty and prospective students.
This incremental, patient budgeting philosophy has certainly yielded results. Between 2014 and 2022, MIAD has seen a 44% increase in enrollment, while this past year’s student retention from first year to second was 85.5%. As metrics, these numbers indicate the college’s emphasis on recruitment and retention, a result of tightening and reworking the budget over several years. Morin likens the process to gardening: “sleep, creep, leap” is one of his guiding principles in both college budgeting and growing perennials.
Learn more about President Jeffrey Morin and explore MIAD’s mission and vision.
News
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan. Emma Jenkins ’25 (Communication Design) is from Milwaukee.
MKE Prints exhibition installed at MKE airport
MKE Prints is a collection of hand-pulled screen prints was created by Communication Design students at MIAD on view at the MKE airport.
Recollection Wisconsin digitizes Guido Brink collection
Thanks to the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative, the Guido Brink collection at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will soon be digitized and available for public access. Current UW-Milwaukee graduate student Ceceilia Loeschmann is digitizing and cataloging the collection during summer 2025.
Student commission celebrates previous MIAD board chair
Deanna Tillisch, outgoing chair of the board at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), received a student-commissioned monotype print in recognition of her service. “Deanna Dancing” was made by Anna Louise Barr ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice).
MIAD elects new board chair and three new trustees
MIAD elects new board chair and three new trustees: Amanda Singh to board chair; Abim Kolawole, Lauren Hurley, and Bob Schwartz as trustees.