Everyone who walks through the doors of AAC grows and changes—becoming more skilled, more creative, and more themselves.
The Personal and Professional Development Studio (PPDS) is here to help you reach your full potential and design your best life.
The PPDS can help you find your way within AAC, whether that’s through life skill development or connection with student groups that share your interests. We also broaden your academic horizons and prepare you for life beyond AAC with:
Reach out to us for assistance in career guidance, resources, and available opportunities.
Erika Allen
Associate Director of Professional Development/Alumni Coordinator
AAC is an official member institution with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS), which offers study abroad programs in more than 20 countries. Come to a PPDS Study Abroad info session to learn more about budgeting, scholarships, and available programs.
ABI has domestic, international, and virtual art and design internship opportunities for students. Its program prepares and trains students for internships with major companies in New York City, Los Angeles, Berlin, Sydney, Melbourne, and Hong Kong.
All AAC students take “Going Big: Professionalism Workshop,” to connect the skills they learn in studio and liberal arts courses with those they’ll need after graduation. Students can also choose between five courses designed to prepare them for their future careers. Those courses include “Exhibition Studios,” for students who wish to pursue a fine arts career, and “Academy Design Service,” for students interested in working with a design firm.
AAC students can work as Ambassadors (responsible for student-led programming) or serve on Student Council. Those in student leadership roles collaborate and help make student life at AAC a true reflection of the student population’s needs.
All AAC students take “Going Big: Professionalism Workshop,” to connect the skills they learn in studio and liberal arts courses with those they’ll need after graduation. Students can also choose between five courses designed to prepare them for their future careers. Those courses include “Exhibition Studios,” for students who wish to pursue a fine arts career, and “Academy Design Service,” for students interested in working with a design firm.
Success after graduation is built into the AAC experience. By engaging in co-curricular activities, students build networking, presentation, organization, leadership, planning, and creative problem-solving skills. Participating students document their participation in three tiers of career preparedness activities throughout their time at AAC to receive an Arts Business Distinction upon graduation.
AAC is a member of The Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD), which allows students to attend another member college for one semester at the AAC tuition rate. It also is a part of the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection (GC3), which permits students to cross-register and take individual courses not available at AAC.
Each year, AAC invites local businesses to participate in its Career Fair. Students get the opportunity to speak with business owners, hiring managers, and artists who want to fill positions and network.
The PPDS helps students feel comfortable and prepared for big career moments by providing access to our Career Closet, featuring professional clothing and accessories in all sizes.
Do you want to work with AAC students for your design or creative project needs? We have an in-house program called Academy Design Services (ADS) that collaborates with companies and community partners in the region to ideate and produce visionary results for anything you need! If you have a project that you would like to partner with our students on, simply submit the request form below.
Additional generous support from: John J. & Mary R. Schiff Foundation, P&G Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Thomas R. Schiff Foundation, Hamilton County.
