Conclave 2026

Eleanor Twiford is a creative executive and results-oriented leader with more than 25 years of experience building teams, developing talent strategies, and creating high-impact experiences at the intersection of education, creativity, and industry. Internationally recognized for her work in early-career talent development, she helps organizationsunderstand the value of creative talent and how to attract, prepare, and engage the next generation of professionals.As Associate Vice President for Career and Alumni Success at SCAD, Eleanor leads a team of career advisers whoprepare and connect students and alumni with opportunities across the creative economy. She and her team cultivatepartnerships with over 200 employers annually, collaborating with organizations including North Face, Rocket, Adobe,Netflix, and LVMH.Eleanor has a proven track record in brand experience and event strategy, leading the evolution of APRES SCAD, theuniversity’s conference and retreat, for more than a decade. She has overseen speaker recruitment, guest engagement, programming and events, and promotion, growing the event from 15 attendees into an exclusive, waitlisted experience hosting nearly 100 guests annually.Prior to her current role, Eleanor held executive leadership positions across creative direction, public relations and marketing, and served as Director of SCAD Lacoste in Provence, France, where she lived for nearly five years. Her experience also includes roles in special projects and editorial at ELLE DECOR, Condé Nast Traveler, and PEOPLE magazines. She served as brand creative director to direct-to-consumer retail brand, LAKE, where she built and managed the creative team and contributed to phenomenal growth.Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and English from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Arts in Interior Design from SCAD.