President Tenny’s Fond Farewell

If there was only one thing that School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s diverse, global population is a testament to, it must be that talent comes from all over. It lives within each of us.

Every member of this college of artists, designers, and scholars has something to share. An insight to express. An expertise to demonstrate. Something they do best. Celebrating the incandescent excellence inside each of us is what this issue of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine is all about.

Take, for example, fearless filmmaker Jennifer Reeder (MFA 1996), who we might call “Most Likely to Win an Oscar.” In this issue, you’ll also find an exploration of multimedia artist Yvette Mayorga’s (MFA 2016) process, which garners her the honorific “Best Color Palette.” Designer Franky Tran’s (BFA 2016) week of outfits prove he’s “Best Dressed,” and a discussion of Tania Duvergne’s (BFA 1991) work as director of Public Art for Public Schools in New York City makes it clear why she has the “Most School Spirit.” In fact, with all these superlatives, you can think of this issue of the magazine as a yearbook—which just wouldn’t be complete without senior portraits!

This issue is also a special kind of yearbook for me, as this will be my last semester as president of SAIC. And as I peruse these articles, and recall memories of my 14 years at the School, it’s clear that it’s the people who make SAIC. I’m profoundly grateful to have met and worked alongside so many staff, faculty, students, alums, and supporters—each with their own superlative contributions that make this such a remarkable place. Though I am about to, in a sense, graduate, I still can’t wait to see what you do next. If we were signing one another’s yearbooks, I’d sign yours—KIT—meaning, “keep in touch.”

Elissa Tenny
President ■