School of the Art Institute of Chicago selects Korean artist, educator as its next president

Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune
Updated ·2 min read
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Completing a successful national search, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago announced Thursday that Jiseon Lee Isbara would be its next president, making her the second woman and first woman of color to step into the role in the college’s 158-year history.

Lee Isbara, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, currently serves as provost of Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, where she implemented a curricular revision to better align teaching practices with student mental health and career preparedness and bolstered the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion infrastructure, SAIC said in a statement sent to the Tribune Thursday.

“Throughout the search process, I was consistently impressed by Jiseon’s passion, dedication, and creativity as both a leader in higher education and as an artist,” said Anita K. Sinha, the presidential search committee chair.

“Jiseon is going to be a voice for the future of art education, and I am excited to see the many ways in which she’ll enrich our incredible community of students, faculty, and staff.”

Lee Isbara holds a master of fine arts degree in textiles from the Ewha Womans University in Seoul and an MFA in fibers from Colorado State University.

During her tenure at Oregon College of Art and Craft, she held several roles, including interim president, dean of academic affairs and chief academic officer, and head of the Fibers Department.

SAIC said Lee Isbara deeply understands the innovations and evolutions driving effective teaching and learning and will guide the institution through its next chapter.

In a statement, Lee Isbara praised SAIC’s diversity, community of people, philosophies, pedagogies, and goals.

“I will work tirelessly to advocate for our students’ futures and celebrate the talents that SAIC’s staff and faculty have nurtured, strengthening the School’s remarkable global community that makes a difference in art and design, education, and beyond,” Lee Isbara said.

Lee Isbara’s textile work, which often addresses the complexity of current cultural discourse through the lens of her experiences as an immigrant of color, has been showcased in both national and international exhibits.

Current SAIC President Elissa Tenny is retiring this year. Lee Isbara’s term will begin July 16.