Interim leader for Art Center

The board of trustees at Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design on Wednesday named Frank L. Ellsworth as interim president.

Ellsworth, who has served as president of Pitzer College, president of the Independent Colleges of Southern California and most recently president of the Japan Society in New York City, will take over immediately and continue through the ongoing search for a permanent president, anticipated by the end of 2009.

Last month, Richard Koshalek -- former director of L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art -- abruptly stepped down from the Art Center presidency after school trustees refused his request for a four-year contract extension.

-- Diane Haithman