Yale Art Dean Aims for Debt-Free MFA Program
Kymberly Pinder is working to eliminate student debt at Yale School of Art through fundraising and curriculum changes.
Yale School of Art Dean Kymberly Pinder has set an ambitious goal to make the Master of Fine Arts program debt-free for students. Over her five years leading the institution, Pinder has raised $13 million towards establishing what she calls an "ethical MFA" that would allow graduates to pursue their artistic careers without the burden of substantial loan repayments.
Pinder, a scholar of race and public art, is focused on preparing students for the realities of a career in the arts. At Yale, she has pioneered financial literacy and grant-writing curricula. She has also worked to integrate students into the wider New Haven art community. Under her leadership, the school transformed an underused Yale-owned space into a student-run gallery showcasing local artists and initiated art projects within a local women's prison.
This spring, Pinder was reappointed as dean for a second five-year term, providing her with additional time to further her vision of a debt-free top MFA program.