New president at MCAD

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) has appointed Gwendolyn Freed, PhD, as the institution’s 20th president, effective June 1, 2025. She was selected by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees, following a national search.
Dr. Freed brings a deep passion for art and design, and more than two decades of experience in higher education, the arts, and nonprofits. “As we look ahead to MCAD’s sesquicentennial and beyond, I will be focused on our growth, sustainability, and flourishing,” said Dr. Freed.
Freed teaches in the University of Minnesota’s graduate program in Arts and Cultural Leadership, as well as at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She holds a doctorate in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, and is an alumna of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
The annual art auction to raise money for scholarships at MCAD is set for May 30, 7-9:30 p.m.