DMAD was featured on the first publication of the Kayseean this year!
Read the full article by Rachel Burrus, below:
An Innovative New Program Begins
Rachel Burrus
A marvelous new year has begun here at King University, bringing along with it a positively charged sense of refinement and growth. This fall semester also presents the commencement of a brand new program the likes King has never offered before in its school history. You have probably noticed various flyers posted around campus sporting an awareness program for a new program called, “DMAD,” short for Digital Media Art and Design. Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Joseph Strickland, assistant professor of photography and the chair for the new DMAD program.
“I’m very excited about DMAD,” says professor Joe Strickland. “We have a great amount of freshmen and transfer students coming in this year and jumping right into it.”
Before his arrival to King in the fall of 2013, Strickland taught at the Art Institute in Charlotte with degrees at both Utah State University and Appalachian State. First of all I asked what had attracted him to come and teach at King, being such a small college in comparison to other big-name institutions; and indeed that was exactly what appealed to him – the “small program.” “You get to know your students well – what they want to do as well as learning their needs, it’s totally customizable,” says Strickland.
Upon landing into the photography program on our small campus, I asked Strickland what his first reaction was, and if he was aware that changes needed to be implemented. “At its foundation, I found it great,” responds Strickland. “but some courses needed to be changed; and moreover added to.” From personal experience, Strickland informed me that as creative thinkers and doers, we needed to be taught that our craft is not only a gift, but that it is very rewarding to turn that passion into a living as well, particularly how to do so in the business scheme of things.
Professor Joe Strickland stresses on the value of Digital Media Art and Design, especially for its unique interdisciplinary worth at a smaller institution to help give students proactive growth before launching into future careers.
“I can’t wait to expand on the graphic design and video portions as well as the photography side of the program,” says Strickland excitedly. “It’s definitely a big deal. I feel students here would do it if they knew they could, so getting the word out is very important.”
There is definitely a positive charge in the air for DMAD, offering creative students the necessary knowledge to coincide with skills and talents upon graduation to access an occupation with confidence.
“We definitely feel morally and ethically good about what we’re doing, in doing what God calls you to do, breaking our own path, and having the faith that God will provide,” concludes Joe Strickland.
