School Notes: School of Art
September/October 2022

Alumna named director of graphic design

The School of Art is pleased to announce the appointment of Nontsikelelo Mutiti ’12MFA to the faculty as the director of graduate studies in graphic design. Beginning her appointment in August, Mutiti became the third director of the graphic design program, following Professor Sheila Levrant de Bretteville’s (’64MFA) historic 32-year tenure. Mutiti is a Zimbabwean-born designer, visual artist, and educator whose conceptual approach to design spans the media of print, moving-image, web design, fine art, and community engagement. 

A graduate of the School of Art, Mutiti says that her intention as director of graduate studies is to ensure that “the students of this venerable program receive an education unrivaled in vision, breadth, and relevance—one that challenges them to exceed their own aspirations. Pursuing this means that the program itself will continue to promote and advance the creative flourishing of the art and practice of graphic design internationally.” Mutiti has held assistant professorships at Virginia Commonwealth University and Purchase College, State University of New York.

New role focuses on development and alumni

Nicole Freeman has joined the Yale School of Art as the new director of development and alumni relations—marking the first time a full-time role has been dedicated to development and graduate alums at the School of Art. Freeman brings an impressive track record in creating, managing, and implementing donor-centric fundraising programs, most notably at Harvard’s Divinity School and Graduate School of Design. 

During her time at Harvard, she increased alumni leadership giving at the Graduate School of Design from $525,000 to $800,000 by introducing new infrastructure and strategy to their systems and solicitation methods. She also secured significant six-figure gifts to support student research and programs at both schools. We look forward to the ways she will innovate and creatively engage with the School of Art community and partner with our cross-school/unit development staff.