Foundations for the Future

Just two months into the new year, it is already clear that 2026 will be a defining period of momentum and transformation for the Stamps School. In the midst of our busiest semester, our faculty, staff, and students are advancing new initiatives that will strengthen our foundation and position us for lasting impact. 

As we move toward spring, the season of renewal, we are undertaking a rigorous examination of the core elements that shape our institution, from our physical spaces to our curriculum. In this update, you will read how we are meeting this moment with a call for visionary imagination and collective action. 

Together, we have the opportunity to align our strengths with the evolving needs of artists and designers, and develop a plan for the Stamps School that meets this pivotal time with clarity, creativity, and purpose.

The Building Study

As we announced a few weeks ago, the Stamps School, along with the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning are launching the first phase of a major capital project, which includes commitment to renovate the Art & Architecture Building and build a dedicated expansion for the Stamps School. This begins with a comprehensive study of the Art & Architecture Building. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to architectural firms was issued on February 2, which helped to determine which firms have the the expertise, experience, and capabilities to conduct a project of this scale. That part of the process is complete, and now the university will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to the finalists so that we can consider the narrowed list of firms who are equal to the challenge of assisting us in fully identifying needs and opportunities within the Art & Architecture Building. We expect the study will formally launch later in the spring. 

This project represents not only a physical transformation but also a reinvestment in the mission and long-term vision of the Stamps School. The study will allow us to reimagine what is possible, and to thoughtfully explore every opportunity that can move us toward solutions aligned with our highest priorities. It strengthens our commitment to dynamic, interdisciplinary studio-based education and transformative praxis. For years, we have navigated the limitations of our current space with creativity and resilience. Now, we can assess our present reality with clarity, and chart a purposeful path forward. 

Throughout this process, we will send regular updates, and offer opportunities for input as we explore the possibilities of the future of our space and purpose. Together, we can identify concrete strategies to renew, reinvent, and fully realize the ambitious future we envision for the Stamps School. 

Curriculum Conversations

The Stamps curriculum is legendary for its groundbreaking interdisciplinary approach pioneered by Dean Bryan Rogers. As we prepare for our upcoming reaccreditation by the National Association of Art and Design Schools (NASAD) in the next two years, we are undertaking an internal review of our graduate and undergraduate curriculums. 

At this moment, we have launched dedicated faculty-led dialogue to revise and reaffirm both the MFA and MDes graduate programs. There are proposed changes, including introduction of new courses, that we are asking all tenure track faculty, lecturers, and staff to consider. I am appreciative of Dylan AT Miner, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Creative Practice, and Graduate Education; Angela Washko, Professor and Director of the MFA Program; and Sara Dean, Associate Professor and Director of the MDes Program for leading this collaborative effort.

Rebecca Strzelec, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, is working with me on a review of the Stamps School foundational curriculum. As part of this work, we have invited all faculty and staff with experience in our foundations courses, as well as those with a broader interest in the foundational curricular experience, to participate in these discussions. We are encouraging members of our community to share observations, ideas, and experiences that may inform future revisions to the program. We recognize that there are varying interpretations of what constitutes foundations. In many cases, it refers to the core required first-year coursework for students in art and design. These conversations are designed to gather shared perspectives from across the community and to ensure that any potential revisions to the structure of our foundational curriculum are thoughtful, inclusive, and informed by the insights of our people.

The Stamps School Mission Update

Foundational to all of these initiatives around space and curriculum is the Stamps School Mission. As part of our extended community, I invited you to weigh in on the mission of the Stamps School this past fall. Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out the form and share their thoughts. By the end of summer, I’ll share more on our work on mission and vision, and how these efforts will directly impact the building study and any potential revisions to the Stamps graduate and undergraduate curriculum. 

Exhibition Season at Stamps

Central to the Stamps School student experience is the opportunity for students to share their work in the public sphere. Art and design students gain significant value from exhibiting their work because it shifts their creative practice from a private academic task to a public, real world experience. Preparing for an exhibition requires them to think carefully about presentation, layout, lighting, and how viewers will move through and interpret their work. This process strengthens their ability to make intentional choices and to communicate their ideas clearly. 

Public exhibitions invite feedback from people with different perspectives, which can challenge students to reflect on their assumptions and refine their approach. Overall, the experience helps students see themselves not only as learners but as emerging practitioners participating in a wider creative community.

To that end, I invite you to share in the joyous experience of viewing the work of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni this spring at events in Ann Arbor and Detroit. First up is the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) national conference from March 25 – 28. The Stamps Community is fully participating in a number of events, including a pop-up exhibition entitled Legacies: Contemporary Art Dialogues with Clay by the Stamps Gallery that begins on March 13. 

Also in March, MFA students will showcase the culmination of their educational experience at What We Tend: The 2026 MFA Graduate Thesis Exhibition at the Stamps Gallery from March 20 through April 11. Also, don’t miss We Ran Toward Each Other: The 2026 MFA First Year Exhibition at the Faculty and Graduate Studios March 25 through April 17. 

Ending exhibition season is the 2026 IP Exhibition, featuring work in a range of media by graduating Senior Integrative Project students beginning with an opening reception on Friday, April 24 from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Art & Architecture Building. Commence: A Graduating Student Exhibition will take place April 24 through May 2 at the Stamps Gallery. We hope to see you at all of these important events that are memorable milestones for our student artists and designers. 

The Pathway to Sustained Progress

As we embark on this defining chapter, we are guided by our lived experience as members of the Stamps School community and inspired by the responsibility to shape its future. Our mission calls us to become the leading art and design school in the nation, setting a standard of excellence in creativity, innovation, and impact. We are committed to expanding access to meaningful career opportunities by empowering students to master their creative practice while equipping them with the practical skills to build sustainable, fulfilling livelihoods. In doing so, we champion lives where artistic vision and professional success thrive together, enabling our community to live creatively and fully. We invite you to join us on this pathway toward possibility and progress.