Neil Hoffman has been appointed the next president of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD).

Hoffman will begin working at Wisconsin's only independent, four-year college of art and design on June 1.

Hoffman has twice served at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, as dean and chief executive officer from 1979-1983 and as president from 1993-2000. During his  tenure, he converted the then two-year publicly operated college to a comprehensive, independent four-year college.

"Neil Hoffman is a nationally recognized expert in the advancement of educational institutions through strategic planning, enrollment management, fundraising, and board and leadership development," said Claire Hackmann, chair of MIAD's board of trustees and leader of its presidential recruitment efforts. "These are exactly the skills that allow MIAD to reach a new level of excellence. Neil's proven track record, coupled with his infectious energy and passion for arts education at all levels, distinguished him from among the 10 highly qualified candidates the search committee interviewed for this position."

"I cannot wait to begin," said Hoffman. "As the only independent college of its kind in the state, MIAD plays a prominent role in the community and has a unique responsibility to support the arts and arts education in high schools. MIAD is an outstanding college and community resource, and I want to help increase its deserved recognition in these areas."

As president at Otis College, Hoffman raised capital funds of $15 million and increased the school's endowment 600 percent. He also increased scholarship funding and created a comprehensive diversity program, new degree programs and a new downtown campus for the School of Fashion Design.

In between his positions at Otis, Hoffman served from 1985-1993 as president of the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, where he achieved similar results.

From 1983-1985, Hoffman served as the first president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he implemented a comprehensive marketing and enrollment management program and acquired the donation of the school's first residence hall.

A professional and exhibiting photographer, he participated in the first major U.S. exhibition to feature photography at Western New York's Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and he has served as a member of the American Film Institute's Advisory Committee.

Hoffman succeeds Mary Schopp, who served as MIAD's acting president since Robert Rindler's resignation in August 2006. Schopp will return to her former position of executive vice president.

Hoffman and his wife, Sue, are planning to attend Creative Fusion, a new celebratory benefit at MIAD to be hosted by Madeleine and David Lubar on May 5.