Get ready to celebrate the SCAD Class of 2022! Fête the university's largest graduating class, with digital and in-person events Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4. Presented online, the Presidential Conferment of Degrees begins 9 a.m. ET, Friday, June 3, for all SCAD locations, uniting graduates, students, and audiences from around the world. Following the morning's ceremony, in-person Presentations of Degrees with esteemed faculty will take place in Savannah and Atlanta through Saturday, June 4, as graduates command the stage.

"The Class of 2022 will carry SCAD in their hearts wherever they go, into every boardroom, every brand they build, and every atelier and studio they launch," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "SCAD Bees make the world more beautiful. Together, we strengthen our communities and uplift our neighbors. These talented Bees may be graduating, but they never leave SCAD. They are SCAD. And they shine our love and light in everything they create for others."

The high-energy, digital conferment of degrees ceremony will be emceed by entertainer, actor, composer, YouTube sensation, and SCAD alum Daniel Thrasher (B.F.A., performing arts, 2015).

President Wallace will confer degrees and present two honorary degrees to visionary artists David Yurman and Tricky Stewart. Yurman is a jewelry designer and sculptor with a lifelong love for design an innovation. With his wife and co-founder, Sybil, Yurman created America's foremost luxury jewelry brand, David Yurman. Stewart is a multi-Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer, and composer. In a career spanning more than three decades, Stewart's profound respect and appreciation for music has been the guiding force in more than 50 million records sold.

Acclaimed actor, writer, director, producer, and bestselling author Amy Poehler will deliver the commencement address to more than 3,200 graduates during the virtual ceremony. Poehler made her documentary directorial debut with Amazon's critically acclaimed documentary Lucy & Desi, which she executive produced through her production company Paper Kite Productions. She also executive produces Netflix's Emmy-Award winning series Russian Doll, Amazon's Harlem, NBC's Making It, which she co-hosts alongside Nick Offerman, Peacock's Baking It, and Fox's Duncanville, which she co-created and voices two characters. Her acting credits include Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, Inside Out, and Mean Girls, among others.

Other programming includes remarks by SCAD alumni Erika Bazo (B.F.A., industrial design, 2014; B.F.A., service design, 2014) and Daniel Freyermuth (B.F.A., industrial design, 2012). The couple met at SCAD and have since led innovation and change in their respective creative careers. Bazo is a senior user experience manager at multinational financial services firm Charles Schwab. Freyermuth serves as the product strategy and development director for Flarespace,a Storyteller Overland subsidiary and adventure van parts manufacturer supporting RV manufacturers and the DIY community. Their remarks will encourage the new graduates to "live free, explore endlessly, and tell better stories."

The HoneyBees, SCAD's elite performance ensemble, will also be featured, along with a compilation video of the university's 2022 Outstanding Graduates from both the SCAD Savannah and Atlanta locations, and a special highlight reel dedicated to the Class of 2022. Outstanding graduates represent an array of the university's top- ranked degree programs including business of beauty and fragrance, interactive design and game development, industrial design, interior design, performing arts, visual effects, and user experience (UX) design.The digital event will be livestreamed via YouTube with a link to the live broadcast at scad.edu/commencement, giving at-home viewers a front-row seat to the show.

Following the morning ceremony, the Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will take place as in-person events at the Savannah Convention Center and the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Savannah graduates will participate in the ceremony designated for their school on either Friday, June 3, or Saturday, June 4. For friends and loved ones who are unable to attend in person, all Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will also be streamed live online via scad.edu/commencement.

SCAD Outstanding Graduates 2022:

ATLANTA
Valedictorian
Jabria Oliver (B.F.A., industrial design)

Salutatorian
Akebalan Etzioni (B.F.A., interactive design and game development)

Excelsus Laureate
You Li (M.F.A., interior design)

SAVANNAH
Valedictorian
Hannah Harris (B.F.A., business of beauty and fragrance)

Salutatorian
Andrew Goodridge ( B.F.A., user experience (UX) design)

Excelsus Laureate
Felipe Amaya Quintero (M.F.A., visual effects)

Congratulations SCAD Class of 2022!

SCAD Museum of Art hosted a momentous gala event on Thursday, April 21, 2022, celebrating the institution's 10-year anniversary, with over 300 attendees enjoying a suitably gorgeous Savannah evening. The celebration took place al fresco in the museum's Alex Townsend Memorial Courtyard and included performances, film screenings, and a three-course dinner by award winning hospitality group Daniel Reed.

The evening was hosted by SCAD President Paula Wallace, SCAD VP of brand experience Kari Herrin, and industrial design student Aniekanabasi Asanga. The event was co-chaired by creative leaders, sisters, and close friends of the university Wendy Goodman and Tonne Goodman. The gala host committee included Ellen and Jeep Bolch, MD, Arnika and Stephen Dawkins, MD, Katie Holderness, Melissa Rowan, Justice Leah Ward Sears, Anita and Michael Thomas, Michael Bishop and Shane Thomas.

The evening featured multiple, unique artistic delights. Accomplished actor and SCAD performing arts professor Isaiah Johnson and elite SCAD vocal ensemble The Honeybees both performed, as well as a DJ set by alumni Jose Ray (B.F.A., painting, 2011). Guests also experienced the debut of a short film celebrating SCAD Museums of Art's artful first decade and the institution's award winning historic preservation. Alumni artists' creative work was showcased, including hand-painted linens by alumni and associate curator at SCAD MOA Ben Tollefson (M.F.A., painting, 2014), and floral designs by alumna Audrey Wagner King (M.F.A., fibers, 2011).

Other notable guests included Domenico and Eleanore De Sole, Bob and Alice Jepson, Walter and Linda Evans, Gale Singer, Greg Parker, Ginny Brewer, Chiara Visconti di Modrone, David Paddison, and Lori Judge.

As a center for cultural dialogue, the SCAD Museum of Art engages students and communities through dynamic interdisciplinary educational experiences. A growing international roster of artists provides opportunities for students from all majors to learn about wide-ranging artistic practices and worldviews.

The museum has presented exhibitions by artists including Jane Alexander, Radcliffe Bailey, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Subodh Gupta, Alfredo Jaar, Sigalit Landau, Liza Lou, Ebony G. Patterson, Robin Rhode, Bill Viola, Carrie Mae Weems, Kehinde Wiley and Fred Wilson, as well as site-specific installations by Daniel Arsham, Kendall Buster, Jose Dávila, Michael Joo, Odili Donald Odita and others. The museum's permanent collection includes the Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art, the Modern and Contemporary Art Collection, the Earle W. Newton Collection of British and American Art, the 19th- and 20th-century Photography Collection and the SCAD Costume Collection.

An award-winning, architectural icon, SCAD MOA incorporates the oldest surviving antebellum railroad depot in the U.S. into its striking design. Nestled in the heart of Savannah's vibrant historic downtown district, the museum attracts visitors from around the globe. It has been recognized by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Congress for the New Urbanism, the International Interior Design Association and the Historic Savannah Foundation, and received the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture, a pinnacle achievement.

Joël Díaz, director of the Walter O. Evans Center for African American Studies, brightens the gala.

For more information on SCAD Museum of Art and the current exhibitions on view, visit scadmoa.org.

SCAD Museum of Art would like to thank event partners Ghost Coast Distillery, Service Brewing Co., and Johnnie Ganem's Package Shop.

At the vanguard of footwear design, SCAD has launched the first-ever sneaker design minor. Based on student interest and alumni success in the industry, the minor is designed to further enhance professional credentials and propel graduates to the top of the growing, lucrative field.

The SCAD sneaker design minor is available to students at both SCAD Savannah and Atlanta locations, and includes new courses specifically created to amplify innovative and sustainable design and manufacturing practices. The minor includes five courses designed to develop knowledge and design skills in sketching, rendering, concept development, digital prototyping, and branding for luxury and high-performance sneakers. These courses provide students with access to leading technology resources and ensure students complete the minor with a professional-quality portfolio that includes both physical and digital prototypes of original sneaker designs.

Offered within the School of Fashion, the sneaker design minor illustrates SCAD's elite status within art and design education, innovation, and creative business leadership, and demonstrates the university's mission to prepare students for professions at the forefront of evolving industries. SCAD alumni are already making major waves in the 80-billion-dollar international industry, working with leading brands like Nike, adidas, YEEZY, Reebok, Skechers, and others, and creating their own successful companies.

"From streetwear to sportswear, SCAD Bees define what is hot, haute, and happening," says SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "SCAD grads work for the biggest names in the shoe game. They launch their own lines, too, like Q4 Sports, where SCAD alum Quintin Williams teams up with NBA stars to design shoes that command the spotlight. So many SCAD Bees are already at the top of the sneaker game, and SCAD's new sneaker design program empowers future sneakerheads everywhere to leap into their creative careers. It's a slam dunk."


One of the new hires to facilitate the excellence of the program is accessory design professor Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011), who has designed footwear for professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and WNBA. "I put in years of learning, and timeless hours of first-hand experience in both business and design in order to one day have the opportunity to share my personal knowledge and skillset," Williams says. "I'm super excited to take on this new endeavor and give all that I can the future of designers and entrepreneurs here at SCAD."

Coinciding with the launch of the sneaker design minor, SCAD showcases talented student and alumni designs in an exhibition at SCAD Atlanta, on view March 28–Dec. 2 at SCAD Studio. Alumni including Zaneta Horne (M.A., design management, 2018; B.F.A., industrial design, 2015), Vincent Vu (M.Arch., 2008; B.F.A., architecture, 2007), Carson Whittaker (M.A., industrial design, 2018), Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011), and current accessory design students Tim Buchanan and Jordan Earley are featured.

In addition to the exhibition, SCAD will host two sneaker design conversations at the upcoming SCADstyle 2022 signature event. On April 5 in Savannah, SCAD alumni take part in the panel Up Your Game: The Future of Sneaker Design. In Atlanta on April 6, 11:30 a.m. SCAD hosts a conversation with alumni, The Next Big Thing: Sneakers from Concept to Market, moderated by SCAD professor and footwear designer Michael Mack. A public reception for the sneaker design exhibition at SCAD Studio will be held April 6 from 7–8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the SCAD sneaker design minor.

Design by Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011) for Q4 Sports.

SCAD is proud to announce the wonderful work of more than 150 alumni who have contributed their talents to films nominated for the 94th Academy Awards®. This year, SCAD alumni and students contributed to a total of 21 films that received nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

These talented SCAD Bees represent a variety of award-winning degree programs, including animation, visual effects, film and television, production design, sound design, performing arts, sequential art, illustration, motion media design, fashion, painting, and photography.

Notably, SCAD alumni worked on all five films nominated for Best Visual Effects, including "Dune," "Free Guy," "No Time to Die," "Spider-Man: No Way Home," and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Four of the five nominees for Best Animated Feature also featured the work of SCAD alumni, including "Encanto," "Luca," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "The Mitchells vs. the Machines."

Standout SCAD alumni Andrew Finley (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) and Alejandro Solorzano (B.F.A., animation, 2011) each worked on three different nominated films. Finley is currently Look Development Artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Solorzano is Lead Technical Animator at Luma Pictures.
 
SCAD alumni also made notable contributions to the look of Academy Award-nominated films outside of digital media. Jurasama Arunchai (M.A., production design, 2010) worked as assistant art director on "West Side Story," nominated for Best Production Design and Best Picture; Lauren Stewart (B.F.A., film & television, 2010) and Jordan Law (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) worked on props and costumes for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," also nominated for Best Production Design.

Three 2021 graduates contributed to nominated films: Hope Schroers (B.F.A., visual effects) was an effects intern for "Luca"; Vivian Amaro (B.F.A., visual effects) worked on "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (both nominated for Best Visual Effects) as a VFX artist for Perception; and Madison Boehme (M.A., creative business leadership) worked as Production Supervisor at Disney on Best Animated Feature nominated films "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon."

"Our students work in an environment of collaboration where the classroom is a living model of the industry," said Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of the SCAD School of Entertainment Arts. "Cutting edge facilities, equipment and mentorship by Oscar-winning professors elevate student experience and creative content. Unique to our university, students work on professional film sets in above and below the line roles in Savannah and Atlanta during their time at SCAD, making them ready to launch the moment they graduate!"

Max Almy, Dean of the SCAD School of Digital Media said, "Our programs in the School of Digital Media are top rated in the world!  Our graduates are working at Pixar, Disney, ILM, Blue Sky, DreamWorks and dozens of great companies and the word is that they are the most talented, prepared and professional.  It's no surprise that so many of our alumni have worked on Academy Award®-winning and nominated films.  We are the best and we are so proud!"

SCAD is the only university named by the Hollywood Reporter in all of its top entertainment rankings: film, performing arts/drama, production design, costume design and visual effects.

Congratulations to the students and alumni who contributed to this year's Oscar-nominated films:

Aaron McGriff (B.F.A., animation, 2005) "Luca"
Adnan Hussain (B.F.A., computer art, 2000) "Spider-Man: No Way Home
Alasdair Willson (B.F.A., broadcast, 2008) "No Way Home:
Alejandro Solorzano (B.F.A., animation, 2011) "King Richard", "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings", and "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Alex Dubois (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "West Side Story"
Alex Moed (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2011) "Free Guy"
Alex Wood (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) Free Guy"
Alexander Snow (B.F.A.,animation, 2009) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Alexis Cabone (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) "Cruella"
Alireza Bidar (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Allan Cox (B.F.A., sound design, 2009) "Coming to America"
Andre Danylevich (B.F.A., film and television, 2009) "Lost Daughter"
Andrew Finley (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Encanto", "Luca", and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Andrew Hudson (B.F.A., sound design, 2010) "tick, tick…BOOM!" and "West Side Story"
Annie Taylor (M.A., sound design, 2019) "Lost Daughter"
Austin Bonang (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Dune"
Ben Girmann (M.F.A., animation, 2016) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Benjamin Lopatin (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2014) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Bianca Gee (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Bobby Taylor (B.F.A., animation, 2009, "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Brandon Lee Karcher (B.F.A, animation, 2018) "Cruella" 
Brandon Martin (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Brandon Nelson (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "King Richard"
Brian Freesh (B.F.A. film and television, 2005) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Brooke Eilers (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Caitlin Low (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Cameron Black (B.F.A., naimation, 2014) "Raya and the Last Dragon
Carlos Alarcon (M.A., visual effects, 2010) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Carmen Wong (M.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "King Richard"
Chad Cox (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "King Richard"
Chana Klein (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) "Coming 2 America"
Charles Cronkite (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Charles Ehrlinger (B.F.A., visual effects/film and television, 2004) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Chien-I Kao (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "Free Guy"
Christian Rodriguez (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Encanto"
Christine Uyemura (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Cruella"
Courtland Jones (M.F.A. performing arts, 2012) "CODA"
Courtney Stephens (B.F.A., film and television, 2013) "CODA"
Daniel Irons (B.F.A., film and television, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Daniel Jardin (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
David Butler (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
David Michaels (B.F.A., computer art, 2002) "Free Guy" and "West Side Story"
Davies Rushing (B.F.A., animation, 2019) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Dawoon Kim (B.F.A., animation, 2018) "Don’t Look Up"
Demorrius Sims (B.F.A., animation, 2014) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Derek Nelson (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Diana Chu (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Coming 2 America"
Diana Li (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
D'Lun Wong (M.F.A., visual effects, 2001) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Douglas Addy (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) "Encanto"
Dwayne Green (M.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Coming 2 America"
Dylan Nett (B.F.A., visual effects, 2020) "House of Gucci"
Elise Hannon (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Emily Cramer (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) "Cruella"
Enna Chow (B.F.A., production design, 2017) "Coming 2 America"
Erik Toth (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) "Free Guy"
Erin Choroszylow (B.F.A., film and television, 2012) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Eryn Gruttadauria (B.F.A.,  film and television, 2020) "Free Guy"
Gal Roiter (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Galina Pak (B.F.A., animation, 2018) "Cruella"
George Watson (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Gian Ignacio Lombardi (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Hope Schroers (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Luca"
Ian Ruhfass (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Ian Steplowski (animation, 2003) "Luca"
James Kuroda (M.F.A., computer art, 2002) "Free Guy"
James Spadafora (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Free Guy"
Jameson Everett (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "Free Guy"
Jamie German (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Jason Koh (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Jayda Cardoza (B.F.A., film and television, 2020) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jeannine Kernisan (B.F.A., animation, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Jenn Epstein (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "House of Gucci"
Jeremy Carroll (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Free Guy" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home:
Jesse Erickson (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Jesse Hildreth (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2008) "No Time to Die"
Jessica Spinelli (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jie Meng (M.F.A.,visual effects, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jocelyn Cofer (B.F.A., animation, 2009) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Johnathan Nixon (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2007)"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Johnny Nam (B.F.A., animation, 2016) "Cruella"
Jon Balcome (M.F.A., visual effects, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jordan Law (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Jordan Schilling (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"
Joseph Hayden (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Free Guy"
Josh Holtsclaw (B.F.A., illustration, 2006) "Luca"
Jurasama Arunchai (M.A., production design, 2010) "West Side Story"
Ka Yaw Tan (B.F.A., computer art, 1995) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Kaitlin Duchene (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Karen Heston (photography, 1998) "King Richard"
Kate Kirby-O'Connell (B.F.A.,animation, 2013) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Kirsten Yamaguchi (M.F.A., animation, 2009) "Luca"
Kori Amacker (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Encanto" and "Ray and the Last Dragon"
Kurt Judson (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Landon Lott (B.F.A., sound design, 2010) "Free Guy" and "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Lauren Driskill (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Lauren Longoria (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) "Cyrano: 1 Tale 3 Hearts"
Lauren Stewart (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) "The Power of the Dog"
Liaowei Chen (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Lindsey Butterworth Langston (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Liz Feldstein (M.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Free Guy"
Lucas Gregg (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "Coming 2 America"
Madison Boehme (M.A., creative business leadership, 2021) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Mallory Mahar (M.A., animation, 2011) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Margaret Cardell (B.F.A., motion media design, 2013) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Marla Walkuski (B.F.A.,  production design, 2017) "Coming 2 America"
Marq Faulkner (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2009) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Matt Ward (B.F.A., film and television, 1999) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Maya Peart (B.F.A.,  sound design, 2016) "tick, tick…BOOM!"
Melanie Weldon (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2017) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Meredith O'Malley (B.F.A.,  animation, 2018) "Luca"
Michael DalBello (B.F.A.,  sound design, 2016) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Michael Rogers (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Michelle Gao (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2015) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Mitchell Snary (B.F.A., computer art, 1999) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Nancy Cummings (2000) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nathan Engelhardt (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Naveen Sabesan (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Nicole Taylor (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nicholas Cochran (B.F.A., sound design, 2011) "Coming 2 America"
Nicholas Leone (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nick Bartone (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Luca"
Noah Hamdan (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Paris Smith (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy"
Patrick O'Connor (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Prasad Kamalakar Narse (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Rachel Bell (B.A., production design, 2019) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Rachel Clarke (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Cruella"
Rattanin Sirinaruemarn (M.A., visual effects, 2013) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Rebecca Ulmo (MA., film and television, 2012) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Rich Fallat (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Ross Macaluso (M.F.A.,  visual effects, 2014) "Spider Man: No Way Home"
Ryan Duhaime (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2007) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
Ryan Magid (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) "Cruella"
Sam Klock (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2011) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Samantha Lee (B.F.A., painting, 2014) "Free Guy"
Sarah Ridenour (B.F.A.,  animation, 2016) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Satyajit Ranaprathapan (B.F.A., animation, 2016) "Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Scott Clark (B.F.A., illustration, 1992) "Luca"
Scott Johnson (B.F.A., film and television, 2007) "The Eye of Tammy Faye"
Scott Lebeda (B.F.A., film and television, 2005) "CODA"
Sean Loughran (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2008) "Coming 2 America" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"
Sean Palmer (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Shannon Dingle (B.F.A.,  animation, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Sharmishtha Sohoni (M.A.,  computer art, 2000) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Shaun Galinak (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Luca"
Sophia Yu (B.F.A., animation, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Stephen Null (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Suan Tan (M.A., computer art, 1999) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Taylor Aseere (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy"
Taylor Tiahrt (B.F.A., animation, 2013) "Encanto"
Thomas Neugebauer (B.F.A., sound design, 2020) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Trevor Young (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Encanto"
Tyler Kupferer (M.F.A., animation, 2011) "Encanto"
Tyler Old (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Spider-Many: No Way Home"
Viki Chan (B.F.A., illustration, 2016) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Vivian Amaro (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Walker Kennedy (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Wuyang Wang (M.F.A.,  visual effects, 2018) "Mitchell vs. the Machines"
Yuna Chen (M.A., visual effects, 2019) "Mitchells vs the Machines"
Zane Yarbrough (B.F.A., sequential art, 2010) "Encanto"

If you are aware of a name missing from this list, please email information (Name, Degree, Film) to [email protected].

Researched and produced by Jonathan Sage and Shannon Dade.

Starting Mon. Feb. 28, and continuing through Wed. March 2, SCAD deFINE ART 2022 comes alive with in-person and streaming events in Savannah and Atlanta. The 13th edition of the university's annual program features conversations, curated experiences, and exhibitions at the SCAD Museum of Art, including a special appearance at Trustees Theater by visionary artist Katharina Grosse, this year's honoree. In Atlanta, a keynote address will be delivered by master of photography Duane Michals.

This year, deFINE ART brings together an international roster of vital voices in art and design from countries including Canada, Cameroon, Germany, Iraq, South Korea, and the U.S. These artists' thought-provoking work and ideas encourage deeper engagement with inherited histories, creating spaces in the present moment to envision a future full of opportunity.

New exhibitions whose openings align with deFINE include a site-specific installation by Elaine Cameron-Weir (b. 1985, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada); recent works by Matthew Angelo Harrison (b. 1989, Detroit) in the museum's Evans Center for African American Studies; new works by artist Norbert Bisky (b. 1970, Leipzig, Germany) and designer Sang Hoon Kim (b. 1979, South Korea); recent paintings by Hayv Kahraman (b. 1981, Baghdad, Iraq); new large-scale commissions by Doreen Lynette Garner (b. 1986, Philadelphia); a survey of work by Barthélémy Toguo (b. 1967, Mbalmayo, Cameroon); and the first museum exhibition for SCAD alum Carter Flachbarth (b. 1996, Atlanta; B.F.A., painting, 2020).

This year's honoree, Kartharina Grosse (b. 1961, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany), will be represented by an expansive site-related textile installation as well as large-scale works on canvas created between 2006 and the present. Exhibitions programming also includes the group photography shows Icons Only and Taking Shape.

"Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the opening of the SCAD Museum of Art, the world's finest teaching museum, this year's SCAD deFINE ART promises special magic," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "From honoree Katharina Grosse's extraordinary paintings of incendiary color to Matthew Angelo Harrison's sculptures that explore diasporic identities, SCAD deFINE ART 2022 both interrogates the zeitgeist and begets boundless beauty."

Many of the university's top-ranked degree programs, including sculpture, painting, fibers, and furniture design, are represented in the signature event's exhibitions and programming. SCAD students and community members can interact with the artists during the three-day event through gallery talks, conversations, master classes, collaborations, and public art.

Experience SCAD deFINE ART 2022.

Katharina Grosse, "Untitled," 2021, acrylic on canvas, 117 3/4 x 387 in. © 2022 Katharina Grosse and VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn. Courtesy of Gagosian.

Photo by Jens Ziehe.

This Friday, Feb. 11, SCAD will celebrate the powerful role of women in Georgia history with the 2022 induction ceremony for the Savannah Women of Vision investiture. SCAD is welcoming four new honorees this year—Linda J. Evans, Sarah Mills Hodge, Joyce Roché, and Gale Singer—into its elite cadre of Savannah trailblazers.

Savannah Women of Vision, established by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace, recognizes women of peerless valor, altruism, and intellect whose remarkable ideas, insightful leadership, and distinguished service form the fabric of the Savannah community.

The university will celebrate the 2022 honorees with a public event Friday, Feb. 11, at 3:30 p.m. in Arnold Hall Theater, 1810 Bull Street. The celebration will include original poems read by SCAD alumni, a screening of the SCAD-produced documentary Savannah Women of Vision: Etched in History, and a live performance by members of SCAD's elite vocal ensemble the HoneyBees featuring American Idol winner Candice Glover (B.F.A., dramatic writing).

As a permanent tribute, gold relief portraits of Evans, Hodge, Roché, and Singer—carved by SCAD alum Michael Porten (M.F.A., painting, 2012; B.F.A., illustration, 2004)—will ornament the Savannah Women of Vision gallery in Arnold Hall, home to SCAD's School of Liberal Arts.

"When SCAD students, community members, guests, and school children visit the Savannah Women of Vision gallery in Arnold Hall, I want them to look up at those radiant portraits and feel inspired, loved, and seen," President Wallace said. "I want our students and community to know that smart, fearless women have always made history in Savannah."

President Wallace created the Savannah Women of Vision investiture to elevate recognition of strong female leadership and its salutary influence on society. She chose honorary portraits to adorn the walls of Arnold Hall, where a 1930s New Deal-era mural depicting titans of Savannah history is notable in its omission of women. With the addition of this year's honorees, President Wallace continues a vital tradition of civic recognition, commending and commemorating the profound influence of women whose ingenuity and dedication have indelibly shaped Savannah.

In addition to Friday's celebration, Arnold Hall will be open to the public Saturday, Feb. 12, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for docent-led tours of the Savannah Women of Vision portrait gallery. Throughout the year, the university offers tours to K–12 students, educators, and others, and a free curriculum guide provides additional historic context. 

This year's honorees join 17 other women, inducted in 2020, 2018, and 2016: Emma Morel Adler, Mother Mathilda Beasley, Mary Musgrove Matthews Bosomworth, Miriam Center, Edna Jackson, Alice Andrews Jepson, Clermont Huger Lee, Nancy N. Lewis, Juliette Gordon Low, Abigail Minis, Mary Lane Morrison, Flannery O'Connor, Suzanne Shank, Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, Fredericka Washington, Sema Wilkes, and Frances Wong.

Learn more about Savannah Women of Vision.

SCAD has launched the new SCAD School of Business Innovation, which strategically incorporates a diverse array of top-ranked academic programs focused on preparing creative professionals to lead transformative change across key industries.

"For more than 40 years, SCAD has reinvented itself in service of our mission to prepare students for creative professions, always focused on the future," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "We changed the game for R&D with SCADpro, our innovation studio where students work directly with the world's most valuable brands—from Amazon and Google to Delta, Deloitte, HP, and Capital One. SCAD's buoyant partnerships with the professions are why SCAD grads have enjoyed a 99 percent employment rate for the last four years straight. Now, to ensure the continued elite career preparation of tomorrow's leaders in every sector of the global economy, SCAD invents again. I'm so pleased to announce the formation of the SCAD School of Business Innovation."

Bolstering SCAD's international reputation as the preeminent source of knowledge in the disciplines it teaches, the School of Business Innovation offers 15 graduate and undergraduate degrees in advertising and branding, business of beauty and fragrance, creative business leadership, design management, luxury and brand management, service design, and social strategy and management.

The SCAD School of Business Innovation prepares the next generation of creative leaders to navigate the rapidly changing business landscape through in-depth industry knowledge, design thinking, research, and collaboration. With curriculum focused on the fundamentals of business design and economics, quantitative insights, global supply chain management, lifecycle marketing, brand acceleration, social analytics and more, the school's premier degree programs empower students to become forward-thinking subject matter experts who will deliver transformative innovation to businesses.

SCAD School of Business Innovation leaders Victor Ermoli (standing, left) and Meloney Moore (standing, right) are flanked by (seated, left to right) faculty leads Chris Peeler, Alessandro Cannata, Oscar Betancur, and John Denham.

The School of Business Innovation is led by Dean Victor Ermoli. Also overseeing the School of Design, Dean Ermoli has been with SCAD for more than two decades and has led the curriculum design of several programs in both schools. Ermoli has been named one of the 25 "Most Admired Educators in America" by DesignIntelligence, holds undergraduate and graduate industrial design degrees, and leads through the lens of design and entrepreneurship. In addition to patents in the U.S. and Canada, and more than 30 years of design experience, Dean Ermoli has led studio classes where his students designed products for Coca-Cola, Fossil, Pentair, Dell Computers, and many more prestigious companies.

The School of Business Innovation is also led by Associate Dean Meloney Moore, who held executive and management leadership roles in companies including Estée Lauder, Liz Claiborne, and Toys "R" Us. Moore, who also leads the SCAD business of beauty and fragrance program, holds undergraduate and graduate business administration degrees and brings brand-oriented, global business perspective to the school leadership.

Learn more here.

"Fear is fuel — we have it naturally as human beings for a reason," said actor Ruth Negga, from the stage of Trustees Theater in downtown Savannah. "Acting is learning to harness that fear by whatever means, and doing it in way that doesn't freeze you but frees you."

The Academy Award-nominated actor was speaking before a screening of Passing, the new feature film directed by Rebecca Hall, during day three of the 24th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Adapted from the Harlem Renaissance novel by Nella Larsen, Passing refracts the adversarial friendship between two women living contrasting lives across the color line, as portrayed by Negga and Tessa Thompson.

A festival honoree, Negga was presented with the 2021 Spotlight Award by students Jocelyn Webb (M.F.A., production design) and Tamanda Kadewere (B.F.A., performing arts). To Negga's delight, the students got in an enthused mention of her upcoming role on Broadway, while managing to avoid saying the dreaded name "Macbeth" on stage.

Negga thanked SCAD President Paula Wallace, then directly addressed the students she'd met during a master class earlier in the day: "Your questions were inspiring, your energy was inspiring, and I just want to say ‘courage, my friends' because I believe in you, and I believe that your voices will be heard, and they will be valued, because that's the direction we've been moving in."

After the film, Negga sat for a Q+A with Variety film awards editor Clayton Davis, who asked about the origin of the project and its source material.

"It's very rare that you read scripts that are so vital, you think this needs to be seen, this needs to be in production immediately. The book was written in 1929, which is astonishing that it's taken this long for it to come to the screen but, perhaps, not that surprising," Negga said.

"I found my way to Nella Larsen through Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou [and] my interest in Black female writers in the U.S. When [director] Rebecca [Hall] told me she was interested in adapting this, I was absolutely thrilled and I saw it as an opportunity to shine a light on this forgotten writer. I met Rebecca in New York and she told me her plans with such passion and ferocity that it was contagious. I wanted to be part of it.

"Rebecca was deliberate in casting that we all have the same approach, that it can't happen in a vacuum. When you're acting you must be an open channel, and open vessel, in order to interact with everyone's energies and spirit. With Clair and Irene, these characters are almost interchangeable, and we thought a lot about how they are two interrogations of the same psyche — Nella Larsen's — and the tension that exists in one person. Following your desires versus treating them as taboos. That meant that our performances are interdependent, there's a beautiful symbiosis to them."

Negga then turned, making eye contact with the entire audience as one:

"I can't stress enough that Passing was written nearly a hundred years ago. You end up thinking, How far have we come, really?"

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival continues through Sat. Oct. 30, 2021.

"In the film you're about to see, you'll see a love of what's happening right now: a large group of people in a movie theater, together, looking at a big screen," said writer-director Kenneth Branagh, addressing a keen crowd from the stage of Trustees Theater, before a gala screening of his film Belfast. "You, coming here to support this film festival in person, you inspire me. And given what's happened to the world, it's a wonderful step. What you're doing is, as Shakespeare would put it, 'a good deed in a naughty world.' And for that, thank you very much."

The ovation in response was spontaneous and electric. Opening night of the 2021 SCAD Savannah Film Festival celebrated a return to the in-person grandeur of a crown jewel of the SCAD event calendar. In a suitably luminous moment, Branagh was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Acting and Directing Award by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace.

"It makes me feel proud and privileged to do the work that I do," Branagh said, making mention of being in Savannah 25 years ago while filming The Gingerbread Man with the late, great director Robert Altman. "It's a city throbbing with creativity, vitality, and generosity, and I'm honored to be back. I know Savannah as an incredibly kind place."

Branagh thanked President Wallace and SCAD executive director of theaters and festivals Christina Routhier for their extraordinary work nurturing this "world-famous festival, an amazing achievement." He expressed admiration for "SCAD itself, as an institution producing great work and great students [who are] most impressive with their energy, their concentration, their intelligence, their playfulness and seriousness about the work. A real tonic."

A tribute reel of Branagh's career juxtaposed memorable moments from films including Tenet, Murder on the Orient Express, My Week with Marilyn, and Dead Again. The audience was further roused by a performance by SCAD harmony singing group The Honeybees.

Introducing his own film, Belfast, Branagh said it was a story he had been "waiting and wanting" to tell for 50 years. Based on his own childhood, Belfast follows a nine-year-old boy coming of age in an explosive moment as sectarian violence rocks his city, his community, his very street. As Branagh poetically put it:

"I grew up in a place where it seemed to rain a lot. But there was plenty of sunshine in the hearts of people. And we laughed a lot about silly things. So please feel free to laugh tonight, if you feel moved to do so. And we held each other when we cried about serious things, and generally we were there for each other as a community. And then, as they say, things changed."

Special thanks to Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger for the superb Q+A with Branagh following the screening. As Karger said: "I have just seen my favorite movie of 2021, and I hope you agree."

For more information about this year's Festival, visit the official site.

Famed American designer Christian Siriano's first solo museum exhibition, People Are People, honors the undisputed industry leader's electrifying contributions to fashion. Drawn from his extensive archive, the exhibition features bold creations from Siriano's decade-plus career, celebrating self-expression for every body at every age.

People Are People is on view through January 30, 2022 at the SCAD Museum of Art. The exhibition showcases over 35 sensational creations and statement-making red carpet gowns from the designer's decade-plus career. People Are People is a highlight of SCAD MOA 10th anniversary programming and festivities, celebrating the cultural impact of the university's premier contemporary art museum.

On October 22, Christian Siriano will be fêted at a gala reception at SCAD Museum of Art in attendance with celebrity supporters and loyal friends who have worn some of his most signature designs over the past decade. The People Are People reception weekend also coincides with the 24th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the largest university-run film festival in the world and a distinguished stop on the awards circuit, showcasing cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. On October 23, 3 p.m, "In Conversation with Christian Siriano" will take place as both an in-person and live streaming event.

Since the launch of his eponymous luxury fashion house in New York in 2008, Siriano's star has soared. He is beloved for his statement-making looks that combine fantasy with expert craftsmanship and a bold point-of-view, endearing him to the fashion industry, celebrities, and public alike. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Year 2018, Siriano has consistently been an industry-leading champion of body positivity, diversity and inclusivity, having integrated social responsibility into the ethos of the Christian Siriano brand from the very beginning.

People Are People honors Siriano's electrifying contributions to fashion design and features collection highlights of glamourous show-stopping creations worn by the world's brightest stars and style trailblazers.

"No designer understands people as well as Christian Siriano," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "Celebs love his designs—Billy Porter, Amy Adams, Zendaya, and Lizzo all sing his praises. But what sets Christian apart is his belief that fashion is for everyone—and when we zip up a Siriano design, we are all stars."

In this exhibition, SCAD MOA presents extraordinary gowns and red carpet looks from the Christian Siriano archives, featuring garments worn by the world's biggest stars and luminaries including Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey; legendary divas Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Celine Dion; LGBTQ+ heroes Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Michael Urie and Jonathan Van Ness; leading ladies Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Adams, Lucy Liu, and Danielle Brooks; pop icons Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Sia, and Cardi B; and international top models Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha and Ashley Graham.

"It is such an unbelievable honor to follow in the footsteps of so many great designers who have exhibited their work at SCAD," Siriano said. "As a young designer it has always been my dream to create and inspire others, especially a young generation, and I truly hope this exhibit does that. This exhibition is a celebration of people in all of their beauty."

SCAD students and alumni from an array of the university's top ranked degree programs including fashion design, accessory, jewelry, film & television, fibers, and luxury fashion management will have the opportunity to view and explore these iconic designs and interact with Siriano with exclusive programming throughout the academic year.

"It is an honor to dedicate an exhibition at SCAD MOA to Christian Siriano's incredible body of work and highlight the undeniable impact he has had on the fashion industry," said Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions at SCAD and curator for People Are People. "His stunning creations are vibrant, whimsical, and combine beautiful craftsmanship with a unique point of view and upbeat positivity. We are proud to recognize Christian during this momentous year for SCAD Museum of Art."

Purchase tickets and passes to "In Person with Christian Siriano" here.