Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce John Buckovich as Vice President for SCAD Atlanta and University Operations. Formerly Vice President for SCAD Savannah, Buckovich has been a trusted and forward-thinking leader at the university for over a decade. In his newly-appointed role, Buckovich will lead SCAD Atlanta at a time of transformational growth, significant expansion and record enrollment.   

As Vice President for SCAD Atlanta, Buckovich will be responsible for strategic leadership of the university’s Atlanta location. He will oversee all operational departments, university safety, and academic excellence, reinforcing SCAD’s institutional reputation as the global leader in art and design higher education. Buckovich’s efforts will support SCAD’s mission to expertly prepare students for creative professions, serving students and alumni from across the world with best-in-class academics, accommodations, and opportunities. 

Buckovich will serve as a university ambassador to the Atlanta community, championing SCAD initiatives such as SCAD SERVE. Included in his operations purview are the university’s collaborative design and innovation studio known as SCADpro, as well as SCAD Art Sales and SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, key contributors to the city’s vibrant arts scene. 

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the dedicated group of expert faculty and staff at SCAD Atlanta," said Buckovich. "It is a privilege to take on my new role with the university at this dynamic location which is embarking on transformational growth and expansion to provide our students with an unparalleled academic experience while preparing them at an elite level for their creative careers. Furthermore, SCAD has a profound impact on our city, and I look forward to partnering with the community and Atlanta leaders through strategic university initiatives, outreach and engagement."  

In his new role, Buckovich will lead SCAD Atlanta during a significant phase of growth and expansion. SCAD is now in its 45^th year since the university’s founding by President Paula Wallace in 1978. This growth includes the addition of two new towers in Midtown to create a centralized and dynamic campus footprint that will support SCAD Atlanta’s record enrollment. SCAD Atlanta has experienced an enrollment increase of 10% for the 2022-2023 academic year, featuring the most diverse student body in SCAD’s history, with all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands represented, as well as international students from over 80 countries. In Fall of 2022, SCAD Atlanta debuted FORTY FOUR, a 10-story residence hall as the first phase of the campus’s Spring Street development project totaling 389,845 square feet. The next phase in Fall 2023 will house additional residential and academic space, plus a world-class entertainment venue and main stage theater. Additionally, in Fall 2022, SCAD unveiled the university’s second state-of-the art extended reality (XR) stage/LED volume for virtual productions at the recently expanded SCAD Digital Media Center on West Peachtree Street.  

Prior to joining SCAD in 2013, Buckovich held a distinguished 26-year career with the Richmond, Virginia Police Department serving as Chief of Staff, Operations Major and Assistant Chief. Upon retirement from the Richmond Police Department, he was appointed by Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell to serve as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety for the Commonwealth of Virginia. As Deputy Secretary, he was responsible for daily oversight of eleven state agencies and was instrumental in developing numerous public safety initiatives. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond and attended the 201^st session of FBI National Academy.   

Buckovich assumes his new role immediately. To learn more about SCAD Atlanta, visit scad.edu/atlanta.