This year, we bid farewell to two of our esteemed design professors, Joan Inderhees and Valora Renicker, who are retiring after decades of dedicated service to our School and students. Professors Inderhees and Renicker have been instrumental in mentoring the faculty and inspiring the generations of designers who have graduated from our program. Their research, publications, and collaborations across campus and with our community helped continuously expand the curriculum and shape our program. We are grateful for their passion, wisdom, and leadership, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Please join us in celebrating their remarkable careers and thanking them for their lasting impact on our community.
I am pleased to share that Professor David Middleton was nominated as one of the finalists for the Distinguished Teaching Award at ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅. This honorable award celebrates faculty members who have shown excellence in teaching, guiding students, and positively impacting students' careers and lives beyond graduation. Professor Middleton has taught at the School of Visual Communication Design for over 20 years and has been instrumental in developing our approaches to teaching and research in visual identity and environmental graphic design. He also mentors many undergraduate and graduate students, who appreciate his passion and dedication. Please join me in congratulating Professor Middleton on this well-deserved nomination!
We also are delighted to welcome Hadi Rahmati and David Wilson as new faculty members in our School. Professor Rahmati holds a Master's degree in Animation from the University of Tarbiat Modarres in Iran. Before joining our School, he taught design and illustration in Belgium and Iran for over ten years. Professor Wilson received a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Visual Communication Design from ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅. A familiar face to our School, David Wilson also taught as an Adjunct Instructor and accumulated a wealth of knowledge about our program over the years. Hadi Rahmati and David Wilson have different backgrounds and expertise, but they share a common enthusiasm for teaching and great care for our students. You can learn more about them in the feature article βNew Faces at VCDβ.
As we navigate the continuous evolution of our program, we are confident that our faculty will continue to lead and grow our School in the upcoming academic years. They are ready to support our students and enhance our School's reputation as a leading institution for learning design, illustration, and photography. I can't wait to see what unique and amazing projects our students will create with their guidance and expertise.