Stanlee Gatti, the designer and party planner, resigned from his position on the board of California College of the Arts over the school’s acquisition by Vanderbilt University, The Standard has learned.
Gatti confirmed his resignation but declined to comment further.
“He was an invaluable member of the CCA Board of Trustees for many years and I am grateful for his contributions to the college, including the extraordinary role he played in our fundraising efforts,” CCA president David Howse said in a statement.
The board’s 23 remaining members voted unanimously last week to wind down the school’s operations and allow Vanderbilt to take ownership of the campus. Board decisions do not require unanimity.
“I know Stanlee didn’t like this deal, but I’m kind of shocked,” said one board member who spoke anonymously to preserve relationships. “This is an institution that has been struggling for a long time, and this deal is a real victory for design education and art education in the city.”
Gatti is a renowned events designer who founded the FOG Design+Art Fair and previously served as president of the city’s arts commission. He is behind some of the high-profile events for Bay Area notables of the last four decades, including Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Montana ranch wedding to Jennifer Siebel, Ivy Getty’s lavish nuptials at City Hall, and Kanye West’s proposal to Kim Kardashian at Oracle Park. Members of CCA’s board say Gatti was “instrumental” in CCA’s progress over the 10 years he served on the board, including helping secure a $20 million state grant last year through his close relationship with Newsom.
In 2016, the school created the Stanlee Gatti Endowed Scholarship to honor the designer’s contributions to the arts.
The Standard reported Friday that Newsom was caught off guard by CCA’s abrupt closure announcement. In text messages, Newsom wrote that he “Had no clue” and was given “no heads up” about the 119-year-old school’s dissolution, which was announced by Howse in an email to students and faculty Tuesday.
Separately, Lorna Meyer resigned from the board of trustees Dec. 31. Meyer, who served as chair of the board’s executive committee, said she stepped down due to health issues.
Carina Wong, who has been on the board since April 2021, also resigned in December, according to a CCA spokesperson. Wong did not respond to a request for comment.
Gatti, Meyers, and Wong’s names were not removed from the school’s website until after The Standard inquired about the status of their activity.