Message from the President

Throughout my 21 years with The Art Institutes, my belief in and dedication to the quality of education our school provides continues to grow stronger, fueled by my joy in watching our students thrive in our environment. 

Having held a wide variety of positions within The Art Institutes system, including faculty instructor, academic director, director of technology and director of admissions, and most recently as president of California Design College in Los Angeles, one of 31 schools in The Art Institutes system, I have learned the importance of how each of these points of contact can affect our students' educational experiences.  While our faculty and staff may come from diverse backgrounds to assist our students in their pursuit of excellence in diverse career fields, we remain committed to one thing: Your success as a student and graduate of The Art Institute.

Our faculty come to us directly from the industries in which they have successfully built notable careers—many of them continue to work in their fields as they teach. While at The Art Institute, our students are encouraged to grow and to learn about themselves as well as the industries in which they aspire to become leaders.  We understand what it means to "follow your dreams." And we are here to help and guide you through the next few years so that you can gain all the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill yours.

It is my goal as president of The Art Institute of California — San Diego that your experience here is one of expected quality—and one that makes you feel like you belong here.

I invite you to talk with an assistant director of admissions or with one of our talented and inspiring faculty. I'm confident you'll find that The Art Institute of California — San Diego is the place to prepare for an entry-level position in your chosen field.

I look forward to the opportunity to share with you all that we offer at The Art Institute.

Elizabeth "Liz" Erickson
President,
The Art Institute of California — San Diego