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News Tue Apr 06 2010
Wellington "Duke" Reiter Resigns as President of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Wellington "Duke" Reiter, who was appointed president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago just two years ago in July, has officially resigned from his position as of graduation this Spring.
The following letter was sent to students and members of the SAIC community yesterday morning.
Dear Members of the SAIC/AIC Community,
It has been an honor and privilege to serve the School of the Art Institute over the past two academic years and to establish rewarding relationships with all of you. It is thus with the greatest respect and deep sentiment that I inform you of my decision to step down as president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago following graduation.
The past few weeks have been a time of deliberation for me as I contemplated the direction of my career, the needs of the School, and what we have accomplished together. As I highlighted in my most recent newsletter to the community, there are many items to celebrate at SAIC thanks to the collective effort of faculty, staff, students, and the Board of Governors. However, after much thought, I have decided to return to my ongoing work linking the fields of art, design and sustainable urbanism. These issues have always been my passion and I look forward to devoting my full attention to the creation of sustainable city models on a global basis.
Chicago is an extraordinary city and I am grateful for the experiences I have enjoyed here and within the School. I believe that SAIC is on a trajectory that will strengthen the student experience in ways that will ensure continued growth and success. I depart knowing that there is a strong and talented faculty and administration dedicated to supporting these most ambitious students as they develop into mature artists, designers, and thinkers. It is their optimism and hopefulness that certainly drives us all.
As I begin the transition to my new research efforts, a committee composed of senior administrators and faculty will work closely with the Chairman of our Board of Governors to help assure that the School's operations will continue uninterrupted.It has been a pleasure to contribute to this community and I wish each of you and SAIC the best in the future.
Sincerely,
Wellington "Duke" Reiter
In a meeting with members of residence life and student services yesterday, a "transition team" was introduced and a commitment to continue with all ongoing projects at the school, including the proposed student center, was assured. SAIC is a central establishment in the arts community of Chicago and the president undoubtedly has much control over the direction and image that the school chooses to follow. It will be interesting to see yet another president appointed, and how SAIC's community will undergo the transitional period. It is expected to take at least a year before another president is appointed.
Kelly Reaves / April 7, 2010 8:38 AM
Whoah, how strange. He just started. I wonder why...