Dr. Melinda Zacher Ronayne

Head of School

Melinda Zacher Ronayne, Ed.D., is the Head of School at The Chicago Academy for the Arts. A passionate advocate for arts education and a practicing interdisciplinary visual artist, Ronayne brings a visionary leadership style shaped by more than two decades of experience in arts institutions across the country.

Prior to joining The Academy, Ronayne served as the Director of Visual Arts at Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she led transformative initiatives across the Academy, Camp, and Interlochen Online programs. Her work included a redesign of curriculum and assessment systems, the creation of nationally recognized service learning and arts-in-health programs, and the development of new majors and intensive summer institutes. Her students have consistently received top honors from the national YoungArts Competition, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Ronayne holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University and both an MA in Arts Education and a BFA in Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has presented nationally on topics including collaboration in the arts, portfolio development, and citizen artistry. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Arts Schools Network as Treasurer.