California College of the Arts, President

The Board of Trustees of California College of the Arts (CCA) appointed David Howse to serve as the College’s 10th president.

David brings over 20 years of experience leading arts organizations through strategic visioning, fundraising, and community building, working primarily in educational institutions. He will come to CCA from Emerson College in Boston, MA, where he has worked since 2015 as Vice President in Emerson’s Office of the Arts, as the Executive Director of ArtsEmerson, and also serves as Special Advisor to the President; prior to his tenure at Emerson, he was the Executive Director of Boston Children’s Chorus. 

Among his many accomplishments, David co-led the creation of the Boston Cultural Leaders Coalition, which brings together 35 nonprofit arts leaders to collectively address equity challenges. He is also an active participant and current or past board leader for a number of other Boston and national arts organizations, including: New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund; the Black Trustee Alliance, where he is a founding member; the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In November 2023, the French Government will bestow upon Howse the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, an acknowledgment of his contributions to the arts and cultural diplomacy.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Bradley University, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He will begin his role at CCA in December.

David Bellshaw and Karen Avery led this search with Rafa Escobedo and Julia Hochner.