The Department of Art and Design was recently honored by being the first Academic Unit at Grand Valley to be given an endowed chair position. The Stuart and Barbara Padnos Chair in Art and Design was established in early 2006 and will begin in early 2007. Artists/scholars selected for the Padnos Chair will engage both the University and the Community through residencies of up to 3 years.

The Padnos gift also included ongoing support for the newly constructed Student Gallery. The gallery has now been named the Stuart B. and Barbara H. Padnos Student Art and Design Gallery.