Unveiling the Consultative Panel
In the realm of higher education, advisory boards play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of educational programs. At our institution, the Advisory Board is composed of veteran artists, designers, and employers, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.
Natalie La Scala, with 20 years of work experience in Creative Direction, Project Management, and Higher Education in Denver, is one such member. Another is Diana Dunaj-Kullman, who was awarded "Advertising Person of the Year" by the AAF Metro Phoenix and Ad2 Phoenix clubs in 2011. She also serves as the immediate past president of the AAF - Metro Phoenix Ad Club and an approved American Advertising Awards show judge.
Pat Perigo, a photographer and print production professional with over 20 years of experience in gallery and museum management, is another valued member. Meanwhile, Mike Rider, an animation artist who has worked in films for Fox Animation Studios, DreamWorks, and Cartoon Network, among others, and has published children's books and a fine art book, adds a unique perspective to the board.
Chelsea Winkel, currently a founder and designer for Lifelite.org, an emergency response technology, and a mentor to over 30 early-stage startups, brings a strong background in ideation, branding, and business design. Alison King, who promotes midcentury modern architecture and design through ModernPhoenix.net, focusing on design education, rounds out the diverse group.
The Advisory Board uses a process called workplace assessment to provide data on employment trends in their fields. This data helps ensure that the programs offered by our institution remain current and aligned with industry demands, standards, and hiring practices.
During the annual program review, the Advisory Board looks for areas for evolution or improvement in our programs. Elizabeth Embleton-Smith, a Costume Engineer with extensive experience in theatre, opera, ballet, television, and film, is one of the members who contributes to this review.
For more information about the Advisory Board, visit this page. For more information on the Education team, visit our website/education. The role of the Advisory Board is to strategically guide and support program excellence, ensuring alignment with broader educational goals and societal needs. They help shape curriculum, foster community and student success, advise on policy and strategic directions, and often help bridge academia and industry or government policy sectors.
In summary, the Advisory Board for education programs at our institution includes seasoned professionals who know what it takes to succeed in a design career. Their role is to strategically guide and support program excellence, ensuring alignment with broader educational goals and societal needs.
- The Advisory Board at our institution, composed of professionals like Natalie La Scala, Pat Perigo, Mike Rider, Chelsea Winkel, and Elizabeth Embleton-Smith, each brings diverse skills in areas such as education-and-self-development, career-development, and skills-training to ensure program excellence and alignment with industry demands.
- As part of their role, the Advisory Board members, such as Diana Dunaj-Kullman, Alison King, and others, utilize workplace assessment to provide data on employment trends and help shape curriculum, offering students an education that is up-to-date and industry-relevant.
