T. Camille Martin-Thomsen appointed Dean of Faculty and VP of Academic Affairs

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), a global leader in art and design education, announced the appointment of T. Camille Martin-Thomsen as its new dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs. In this role, Martin-Thomsen will oversee the School’s academic programs, research and professional practice activities, and faculty diversity and inclusion efforts in pursuit of maintaining SAIC’s high standards of teaching, scholarship, and creative production.

Martin-Thomsen is an accomplished architect and researcher who previously served as acting associate provost for academic affairs at Pratt Institute, where she also taught in the Interior Design and Art and Design Education Departments. While at Pratt, Martin-Thomsen guided curricular development, review, and assessment and co-coordinated the School of Design’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion faculty working group. She served on a number of major committees, including the Institute Curriculum Committee, Center for Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee, Diversity Retention and Hiring Committee, and the Diversity Retention and Enrollment Committee. Additionally, she served as a facilitator of the Faculty Learning Community Crit the Crit, which conducted research on critique typologies, pedagogical implication, and anti-bias models. Martin-Thomsen’s current research investigates inclusive pedagogies and how to decolonize design curricula across disciplines, particularly around critique and power.

“Through our discussions with Camille, it became clear that she’s a thoughtful and collaborative leader who will partner with faculty to provide students with an innovative and well-rounded education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,” said Martin Berger, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “We look forward to having her expertise and guidance as we look to define the future of art and design education.”

In addition to her work in higher education, Martin-Thomsen is the founding principal of both Martin-Thomsen Architecture, PLLC, and the creative multi-disciplinary design consultancy TCM Studio. Previously, she served as a senior designer at a firm internationally renowned for designing for retailers such as Tom Ford and The Gap.

“The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a deep history and a fundamental commitment to art and design, with a faculty of accomplished professionals and scholars who challenge their students to transform their passion into meaningful and impactful expression,” said Martin-Thomsen. “The opportunities provided in this position allow me to bring together my lifelong love for art and design with my skills and expertise in curriculum building, pedagogy, academic administration, and faculty development, and I am thrilled to become part of the SAIC community.”

Martin-Thomsen is a registered architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects, National Organization of Minority Architects, Interior Design Educators Council, and the International Society of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, among other affiliations. Martin-Thomsen begins her position with SAIC on September 1.

About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For more than 155 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world, and adults, teens, and kids in our Continuing Studies classes have the opportunity to explore their creative sides, build portfolios, and advance their skills. Notable alumni and faculty include Georgia O’Keeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons.