Brenda Jones, vice president for financial affairs at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, has created a solid foundation for MIAD’s continued growth, financial stability and innovation as a world-class undergraduate college, according to colleagues.
Through her leadership and collaborations across the college this past year, MIAD pivoted and maintained its operations and continued to pay its 370 faculty, staff and student employees during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to Jeff Morin, MIAD president.
Jones refinanced the college’s mortgage and secured financing to complete a $4 million renovation of the college’s 55,000-square-foot 4th floor to house the MIAD Innovation Center, Emerging Technology Center, Illustration and Communication Design student studios, MIAD galleries’ permanent collection and faculty offices. The transformational renovations began before the pandemic and were completed in September 2020.
In addition to her administration duties overseeing human resources, payroll, student accounts and facilities, she managed the distribution and reporting of federal and state relief funds. Jones secured a $2 million PPP loan for MIAD and has applied for forgiveness of the loan.Â
