Rob Flot Joins School of the Art Institute of Chicago as the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs

CHICAGO—The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), a leader in art and design education, announced the appointment of Rob Flot as the School's next vice president and dean of student affairs. Flot will oversee all student affairs services and programming at SAIC, including Residential Life and the Wellness Center. He will begin his role on April 1.

Flot was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and has three decades of experience supporting students in higher education institutions. Most recently, he worked for seven years as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Occidental College in Los Angeles, helping to foster an inclusive, welcoming campus community. Before that, he worked for 13 years in various positions at Lake Forest College, shaping programs, policies, and opportunities for students and staff members. 

“In each of his roles, Rob has led with a collaborative, student-centered approach,” said Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Martin Berger. “We were deeply impressed by not only the comprehensive programming he’s spearheaded, but also with his ability to build relationships and trust with all members of a campus community.”

Flot has developed robust diversity, equity, and inclusion resources and programs at various institutions, and he has an impressive track record of collaborating with faculty and staff to create an educational environment that supports students holistically as individuals. He has a background in therapy and experience working with, managing, and expanding counseling services. He received both his bachelor of arts and master of arts from Eastern Illinois University.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be the next vice president and dean of student affairs at SAIC,” said Flot. “SAIC is an extraordinary, world-class art and design institute. I am very excited to get to campus, and I cannot wait to engage with the community and meet the remarkable and gifted students, faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders.”

About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For more than 155 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world, and adults, teens, and kids in our Continuing Studies classes have the opportunity to explore their creative sides, build portfolios, and advance their skills. Notable alums and faculty include Georgia O’Keeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons.