Paula Wallace is the president and co-founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since her appointment as chief executive in 2000, Wallace has led SCAD in unprecedented growth, building the most comprehensive art and design university in the world. Beyond SCAD Savannah, President Wallace has established four new campuses during her administration, including SCAD Hong Kong, opening for classes this fall.
President Wallace launched many of the university's most popular programs, including SCAD Style, a full spring calendar of style and design events; the Étoile Awards in New York, honoring important figures in style and design; shopSCAD, a boutique showcasing the work of SCAD students, alumni, and faculty; and Working Class Studio, an innovative product development venture partnering SCAD with companies like Williams Sonoma/west elm and Barnes & Noble Booksellers to collaborate on new product lines for stores around the world. President Wallace also founded the Savannah Film Festival and oversees the university's permanent art collection, as well as the SCAD Museum of Art.
Under her leadership, SCAD has been named one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report, one of “America’s Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs” by Forbes, and the “Hottest for Studying Art” among Newsweek’s “America’s 25 Hottest Colleges.”
For her pioneering work in art and design education, President Wallace is the recipient of numerous awards, including the inaugural ELLE DECOR Vision Award and Fashion Group International’s Sustainability Award. She is also the author of several books, including her most recent, Perfect Porches.