Office of the President: Institutional Advancement News | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Office of the President: Institutional Advancement News

By Sanjit Sethi on September 01, 2022
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Portrait of Emily Kessler

Dear MCAD Community,

I am pleased to announce that Emily Kessler will be joining MCAD on September 15 as our Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Reporting to her will be Director of Alumni Relations Grace Bridgeford ’17, MFA, Events Manager Cole Hinz, and, in the new position of Senior Gifts Officer, 34-year MCAD veteran Cindy Theis, who will continue to grow our philanthropic support while seamlessly managing donor relationships.

Emily comes to MCAD with over fifteen years of experience in philanthropy and fundraising in higher education. She has focused her career on linking global communities to propel meaningful investment in access, affordability, and equity. Emily was most recently the Senior Director for International Development at Georgetown University, where she led the university’s international fundraising efforts. Prior to Georgetown, Emily was Director of International Programs for Development and Alumni Relations at Johns Hopkins University, where she created their first international development strategic plan. 

Emily has a master’s degree in International Public Policy, concentrating on China and Middle East Studies, from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Religious Studies from University of Oregon. She is also a mother of two: Mia (age 2) and Owen (age 2 months).

Please join me in welcoming Emily to MCAD and wishing everyone well in their new roles in Institutional Advancement. 

All my best,

Sanjit