President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D.

BACKGROUND & CAREER

A Career Built on Transformation

Cecilia M. McCormick is the president of Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), the oldest, independent, continuous degree-granting college of art and design in the United States.

President McCormick has devoted her career to education, institutional transformation, and community impact. McCormick previously served as president of Elizabethtown College, where she led the institution through a transformative period, securing financial stability and enrollment growth.

Earlier, at Thomas Jefferson University, she was a key architect of the successful Jefferson–Philadelphia University merger and led major academic strategy initiatives—launching new programs, forging cross‑sector partnerships, and developing pipelines that connected learning to workforce needs.

At Johns Hopkins University, she served as chief of staff to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration/COO, and at Widener University, she held multiple leadership roles, including executive director in the Office of the President.

A first‑generation college graduate, McCormick holds a B.S. in management and marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and a Juris Doctor from Widener University Delaware Law School; she maintains her license to practice law in Pennsylvania.

“Now, more than ever, creativity is the commodity that cannot be automated, outsourced, or depleted. Together, let’s invest in it. Let’s turn ideas into impact now, and for the next one hundred years.”
— President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D.

Leading MICA Into its Next Century

Under McCormick's leadership, MICA is renewing its fine-arts foundation while expanding career pathways in design, innovation, and the media arts through Creative Experiential Learning (CEL)—an approach that moves students from studio into real-world experiences. Since taking office, McCormick has guided MICA through a period of renewed fiscal sustainability by growing resources for mission-critical initiatives, while MICA’s strategic focus on academic programs, access, and support has improved enrollment and retention.

“MICA celebrates individuality, fosters well-being, and invites every student to shape a life of purpose, creative fulfillment, and professional power.”
— President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D.

MICA 200: Celebrating Two Centuries of Art & Education

In MICA's bicentennial year, McCormick has led the College in celebrating 200 years of artistic leadership, launching new strategic initiatives and community events that honor MICA's past while building momentum for its next century.

“Moving into the next century, the college is investing in students, increasing sustainability, and building a student body where creativity drives innovation.”
— President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D.

Centers of Excellence

McCormick has created an integrated network of Centers of Excellence, amplifying collaboration across campus and opportunities for students. Leading this is the newly created Design + Innovation Hub, which features the Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (RCCE) and the Center for Creative Impact (CCI). The RCCE helps students turn ideas into ventures, and the CCI applies design to real-world challenges—drawing a clear path from concept to impact.

“The Design and Innovation Hub is how MICA will scale experiential learning. Students will have a platform to connect ideas, partners, and possibilities at scale.”
— President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D.