Paula Wallace

Paula Wallace is the president and founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design, a private, nonprofit, accredited university for creative careers. Established in 1978, SCAD is the most comprehensive art and design university in the United States, with locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Hong Kong; and Lacoste, France; as well as an award-winning eLearning program. Wallace served as academic dean and provost of SCAD for 22 years before becoming president in 2000. As president, Wallace has led the university in unprecedented growth, from fewer than 5,000 students to nearly 14,000 students. She created and championed many of the university's most popular annual events, including Sand Arts Festival, SCAD aTVfest, SCAD deFINE ART, SCAD FASHWKND, SCAD Savannah Film Festival, SCADstyle, and Sidewalk Arts Festival. Wallace also founded three teaching museums, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, the SCAD Lacoste History Museum in France, and the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah. Her initiatives include the SCAD Alumni Atelier Program, which provides SCAD alumni with an on-campus artist residency program; SCAD Art Sales, which connects SCAD artists with global clients; the SCAD Collaborative Learning Center, which partners world-renowned companies with SCAD students; and SCADFILM, which increases the knowledge and network of entertainment arts professionals.