Category: LaGuardia

Posted on

End of the semester… and on to new adventures!

1009382_10201394960454641_1241073943_o

Today was the last day of finals. The students in my HUW 269 New Media Project lab capstone course were scheduled to turn in and present their final professional portfolios. The final presentations are always interesting because it gives the students, and me,  an opportunity to see how far they have progressed as multimedia artists since the beginning of the semester. This year was a little different. In addition to displaying visually stunning portfolios, these capstone students, many who had graduated last week,  surprised me with a end of the semester thank you party. They bought pizza, cake, and soda that we all chowed down on as we laughed and critiqued the final portfolios that were presented.

In the 12 plus years I have been teaching at LaGuardia Continue reading “End of the semester… and on to new adventures!”

Posted on

New Media Tech: LaGuardia Graduation 2013

944375_10201348110923432_72276727_n

To the LaGuardia New Media Technology graduates of 2013:

When you came over to me at the end of the ceremony it brought it all home as to why I do this every day. Y’all made me cry! I LOVE MY STUDENTS! My door will always be open. It has been my honor to be your professor. I am so proud of all of you! Go out into the world and become true “digital disruptors”. Educate, inspire, keeping learning, and most of all, GET PAID!!!! New Media Tech represent!! Westsiiiiiiide!

p.s., Holla at me. On the real, I know of a really good B.A. program in Communication and Media over at CUNY SPS that some of you might be interested in attending. 🙂

Photos from the Event

Continue reading “New Media Tech: LaGuardia Graduation 2013”

Posted on

Prepare for the Smackdown!

A few months back I was interviewed on the occupational activities of former LaGuardia Media Studies student and Cannes filmfest participant, Girard Tecson of Dayside Productions. The interview appeared in a new documentary on Girard’s unusual decision to make a career shift from independent Filmmaking to professional Wrestling. I wish him luck in his new endeavors. At 5’5″ and 150 lbs, I think he is gonna need it.

Posted on

New Media PPR Presentation

As I mentioned in an earlier post, every five to seven years academic degree programs in the CUNY system have to undergo a process called a Periodic Program Review (PPR). Because I am the sole full time faculty member for my program, the research and drafting of the report for the New Media Technology degree became my responsibility. Last week I shared some examples of the process and action plans emerging from the PPR at the annual Instructional Staff meeting.

The following video is my presentation of the PPR report findings to the LaGuardia Community College faculty.

Posted on

CUNY SPS here I come!

SPS Faculty and Staff

Not many people know this yet, but starting in the Fall of 2013, I will be taking over the Academic Directorship of the Communications and Media (B.A.) program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS). It is a four year online degree program that offers an interdisciplinary focus on issues related to communications and the convergence between new and traditional media.

I had my first meeting today with the Deans and the other Academic Directors at SPS. In truth, I was a bit overwhelmed by the enthusiastic reception that I received from everyone. I was offered the position a few month back and jumped at the opportunity because I believe that online programs are destined to play a big part in the future of education.

I was very happy and excited to meet my new colleagues and I look forward to helping them enhance an already amazing series of programs.

Posted on

The 2013 LaGuardia Publishing Reception

PresReceptions May13-Humanities

Yesterday I was happy to be counted among the scholars from the LaGuardia Humanities Department that were celebrated for academic and creative accomplishments. The 2013 President’s Publishing Reception is an event that is held every year to acknowledge academic excellence. It was also the first time that the definition of scholarship was expanded to include some of the digital presentations and research in which I have been engaged.  However while my presentations were recognized, many of my scholarly pursuits in the areas of application design and development were still looked at as supplemental work. As I stated in my recent article, it appears that there is still necessary work that must occur in order to change long held academic beliefs.

Posted on

Behind the Seams at JITP – Changing Tenure Standards

A few weeks back I was interviewed on the process of publishing in the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy (JITP) and what the future holds for digitally engaged faculty within the academy. The video above is an edited version of the conversation that I had with some of the editors at JITP on my experience in submitting a controversial article to them for publication.

I say controversial because over the past two years a large Continue reading “Behind the Seams at JITP – Changing Tenure Standards”

Posted on

Changing tenure and promotion standards – JITP Online Journal

15rfd-image-custom3
Finally, the article that I submitted on “Establishing a New Paradigm: The call to reform the tenure and promotion standards for digital media faculty” premiered today in the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy. The focus of the article is to illustrate the challenges facing digital media faculty as they march towards tenure and promotion, and present a case for reform of the current system. The article was a deeply personal research project for me as it chronicled my journey through the tenure system at LaGuardia.

The introduction for the journal prominently featured a brief editorial review of my article that was rather positive. “Establishing a New Paradigm” was described as showing “how the tenure and promotion processes for most faculty working and publishing with digital technologies are ill-suited to recognize, reward, and nurture the intellectual and scholarly activities that such academics must undertake to stay abreast of rapid changes in their fields”. I was elated that the editors thought that I argued “forcefully that the academy must adapt its employment structures to more explicitly support and reward precisely the type of work that lies at the heart of the other three pieces in this issue”. I have to admit that those words brought a smile to my face.

A digital copy of just my article on tenure and promotion reform can be found here in pdf format.

Posted on

The Periodic Program Review, or I’m down with PPR!

PPR

Every five to seven years academic degree programs in the CUNY system have to undergo a process called a Periodic Program Review (PPR). The PPR is an in depth look at the academic major under review from a programmatic,  institutional, and industry wide perspective. The ultimate goal of the PPR is to begin an honest review of the program effectiveness which will then be used to help to guide the evolution of the major for the next five to seven years. Because I am the sole full time New Media faculty member, the research and drafting of the report for the LaGuardia New Media Technology program became  Continue reading “The Periodic Program Review, or I’m down with PPR!”