Office of the President
Monday, May 17, 2021
Dear Cranbrook Friends,
It is with deep fondness for Cranbrook, and all the extraordinary people who make it a community, that I write to you one final time before retiring as president on June 30, 2021.
Thank you for making my time at Cranbrook the most fulfilling of my professional life. It has truly been an honor to serve Cranbrook, first as its chief operating officer and then as its eighth president. During my tenure, we built and opened a new Girls’ Middle School, renovated the Art Museum and built a state-of-the-art Collections Wing, improved our schools’ locker rooms and sport venues, and renovated much of the overall campus. In addition, we launched the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research, made admission to Cranbrook Gardens free for everyone, opened the exploreLAB at Cranbrook Institute of Science and Art Lab at Cranbrook Art Museum, secured a historic $30 million dollar gift to Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum, implemented financial restructuring for the Cranbrook Community, and more. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together and grateful to have been able to play a role in Cranbrook’s success.
The trust and special relationships that have developed with each of you, and the outpouring of support you have shown since I first announced my retirement in the fall of 2019, fills me with gratitude. While it will be difficult to walk away from this special place, I do so with the utmost confidence in my successor, Aimeclaire (AC) Roche, and each of you to advance Cranbrook’s vision to challenge minds and transform lives. I am confident that our leadership team will ensure that our forward momentum continues during this transition and well into the future.
As I shift my focus toward family and personal endeavors, know that I plan to continue to support this great institution as a parent of a graduate and as a friend. I will be forever grateful for all who lead and define this incredible place of learning, discovery, and creative energy. The spirit of Cranbrook will always inspire me.
Please stay safe and be well.
Sincerely,
