Cranbrook Academy of Art Congratulates the 2025-2026 Gilbert Fellows
Recipients part of a transformational gift intended to create new pathways for diversity, equity, and access to graduate education
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Dec. 5, 2024 — Cranbrook Academy of Art is proud to announce the third and fourth classes of Gilbert Fellows, who have each received a full-tuition fellowship to pursue their studies at the MFA and M.Arch-granting institution.
There are 21 students enrolled in the Cranbrook Academy of Art Gilbert Fellows program, 11 of whom will graduate in 2025 and 10 of whom will graduate in 2026.
The fellowships are part of the Gilbert Family Foundation’s transformational gift to Cranbrook in 2021. This gift has accelerated the school’s efforts surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion and addressed systemic barriers to access within graduate art and design education.
“Our vision for the Gilbert Fellowship program was to open Cranbrook’s doors wider and engage more deeply with diverse communities,” said Jennifer Gilbert, Co-Founder of Gilbert Family Foundation and former Board Chair of Cranbrook Academy of Art. “The brilliance of each new class is a reminder that different perspectives enrich our culture and ensure a stronger creative community.”
Cranbrook awards up to 10 Gilbert Fellowships each academic year to students who demonstrate educational and creative excellence and are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups that historically have not seen significant opportunities for specialized degrees in architecture, art, and design. Prospective candidates self-identify when applying to the program and must submit a writing sample with their application.
Interim Academy Director Chris Whittey said, “Cranbrook, with the generous help of the Gilbert Family Foundation, continues to make an intentional and long-term commitment to support artists, architects, and designers of color. Now in its fourth year, this program has increased the diverse makeup of the student body on campus, and the fellows have brought engaging perspectives into each departmental studio. Their voices are critically important as we navigate the future cultural landscape, and we look forward to watching them make a profound and lasting impact on culture.”
Fellowships are available to both domestic and international students and are renewed annually for the duration of the two-year program. A permanent endowment has also been established through the gift, ensuring Cranbrook can provide these resources in perpetuity.
When Ju Hyun Jung was asked about why she would like to be considered for the fellowship, she said, “Throughout the years of activism and endeavors, I have consistently worked toward a more just and inclusive society, using writings and artworks that shed light on sociopolitical issues such as gender politics and LGBTQ+ rights. This dedication to fostering inclusivity and cultural competence aligns closely with the ethos of the Gilbert Fellowship.”
The current new classes of Gilbert Fellows include:
Class of 2025
Myiesha Gordon Beales (Ceramics 2025), Stina Baudin (Fiber 2025), Fenelon Diaz (Architecture 2025), Nomaki Etsu (3D/Industrial Design 2025), Sehrish Hussain (Print Media 2025), Savannah Jackson (Fiber 2025), Sophia Moreno (2D/Graphic Design 2025) Benita Nnachortam (Photography 2025), Mario Cuellar Ocana (Sculpture 2025), Joshua Rainer (Painting 2025), KESSWA Wanogho (4D/Interaction Design 2025).
Class of 2026
Christian Dougnac (Photography 2026), Ju Hyun Jung (Sculpture 2026), Noor Khan (Photography 2026), Maryam Moinuddin (Painting 2026), Enrique Nevárez (Painting 2026), Irene Perez (Fiber 2026), Luz Alejandra Alvarez Prada (Metalsmithing 2026), Maryangela Sanchez Rocca (Industrial Design 2026), Annamalis Sharp (Graphic Design 2026), Aaron Thompson (Graphic Design 2026).
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 academic year, and prospective candidates are encouraged to apply now. Candidates interested in a 2025-2026 Gilbert Fellowship in Studio + Critical Practice can indicate their interest when applying. Full details can be found on our website, and the application deadline is February 1, 2025. For more information and biographies on each of the Fellows, visit our website.
