Kathryn Allen
B.F.A., digital media production, The Art Institute of Atlanta
A freelance digital media professional, Kathryn Allen has worked with WSB-TV and Turner Studios, and on films such as “Stomp the Yard” and “One Missed Call.”
Tom Baker
M.F.A., sculpture, Claremont College; B.A., sculpture, San Diego State University
Prior to joining the faculty full-time in 2003, Tom Baker was an executive producer with Click 3X and production manager at DESIGNefx and Crawford Communication. He is a member of the International Broadcast Design Association, and his awards include a national Emmy for Click 3X on “Superstructures of the World,” CGI animation open (1999).
Eliot Taylor Bareford
M.F.A., photography, Savannah College of Art and Design; B.A., studio arts, Mercer University
A photographer who specializes in the printing of silver and non-silver images, Taylor Bareford has taught photography at East Georgia College and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has been an adjunct faculty member of The Art Institute of Atlanta since 2007. His work has been shown in exhibits across Georgia.
Hector Batista
A.A., culinary arts, New York Institute of Technology; Certified Chef de Cuisine, American Culinary Federation; Restaurant Manager, Sanitation, and Nutrition Certificates, National Restaurant Association
Assistant club manager for Atlanta’s historic Capital City Club, Hector Batista has also worked at the Hope Valley Country Club (NC), and the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. A member of the American Culinary Federation and the World Cook Society, he is the recipient of numerous culinary awards.
George Berry
M.F.A., woodworking and furniture design, Rochester Institute of Technology; B.V.A., interior design, Georgia State University
George Berry, whose work has been shown at the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center in New York, as well as the High Museum of Art, founded George Berry Furniture Studio in 1979, specializing in furniture and architectural woodworking.
Tanacha Brown
M.S., information design & community, Southern Polytechnic State University; B.A., psychology and Spanish, Augusta State University
An adjunct instructor of graphic design at Westwood College, Tanacha Brown is currently working on her Ph.D. in instructional technology.
Denise M. Causher-Thompson
M.A., fine arts, Redding University; BFA, The Art Institute of Chicago; certficates in product development, computerized embroidery, business development, Chicago Apparel Mart; diplomas in management and finance, and fashion design, London (U.K.)
With over ten years experience as a fashion design instructor in several of Chicago’s top design colleges, Denise Causher-Thompson brings a thorough knowledge of the fashion world. She has studied and worked extensively in Europe and Africa.
Tim Dempski
M.F.A., computer art, Savannah College of Art and Design; M.A., studio art/painting, Montclair State University; B.F.A., graphic design, The College of New Jersey
Tim Dempski is a freelance interactive/graphic designer as well as full-time faculty in the Web design & interactive media department at The Art Institute. He is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).
Booker Edwards II
M.A., education, Clark Atlanta University; B.A., psychology, Norfolk State University
The founder of Illyaas Productions & Recordings in Petersburg (VA), Booker Edwards works as a writer, composer, and producer. He has an impressive career in the music business, with credits including teaching, composing music for television and film, sound design, and audio recording, editing, and mixing.
Joseph Edward Engelbird
B.S., nutrition and dietetics, Georgia State University; A.A, culinary arts, The Art Institute of Atlanta
Currently food services coordinator and public health nutritionist with the Fulton County Office of Aging, Joseph Engelbird previously was director of nutrition with Senior Connections, a non-profit organization in Atlanta serving senior citizens, and a health education instructor with Kaiser Permanente-Atlanta. He has also worked as a chef at the Omni Hotel CNN Center and at the Maple Street Mansion in Carrollton (GA).
Pat Harris
B.F.A., interior design, Virginia Commonwealth University
A noted architectural colorist, Pat Harris brings more than 25 years of experience to the community and professional education program. Her clients have included Brown and Williamson, Emory University, Georgia Power Company, the Granada Boutique Hotel, and the Pinetree Country Club.
Lisa Hubbard, C.C.
A.A., culinary arts, The Art Institute of Atlanta
Lisa Hubbard, a certified chef culinarian (CC) with the American Culinary Federation, began her own chef and catering service in 2007. Prior to that, she worked at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant as pantry chef, saucier, and ultimately, as lead pastry chef.
Scott Joliff
B.F.A., photography, Southern Illinois University
Scott Joliff has worked as a photographer in Atlanta and Chicago for editorial, corporate, and advertising/design clients. He has done lighting for feature films, commercials, and music and industrial videos.
John J. King
M.F.A., computer art, Savannah College of Art and Design; B.F.A., computer art, Savannah College of Art and Design
A member of the illustration & design faculty, John King has been published in ACM Computer Graphics, and his work has been exhibited at The Savannah College of Art and Design.
Kirk Kingsbury
B.S., photography, Rochester Institute of Technology; A.A., graphic design, Jamestown Community College
An international photographer, Kirk Kingsbury’s creative assignments have included a photographic essay on people who live on garbage dumps in Cairo, Egypt, and the aftermath of the tsunami in Banda Ache, Sumatra.
Barry Levey
O.A.S., Culinary Institute of America; A.A, Georgia State University
Barry Levey has worked at the Atlanta Renaissance Hotel, and for Westin Hotels Corporation. He is the chef/owner of Eatertainment Culinary Concepts and has been an adjunct faculty member in culinary arts at The Art Institute of Atlanta since 2006.
Lynn Burnett McGill
M.A., English, University of Iowa; B.F.A., theater, Wesleyan College
A dedicated educator, writer, and photographer with in-depth experience and specialized skills in teaching, publishing, advertising, and marketing, Lynn McGill is an adjunct faculty member in general education at The Art Institute of Atlanta. She is currently field editor for “Traditional Home” and other publications.
Scott Millspaugh
A.A., culinary arts, The Art Institute of Atlanta; Certificate, Fire Science Program and Fire Academy, Rancho Santiago College
A fireman with Cobb County since 1996, Scott Milspaugh is definitely multi-faceted. In addition to being a fireman, he has owned and operated a construction company. But he also loves to cook!
James J. Morris, C.C.E.
B.A., applied behavioral sciences, National-Louis University; A.A., restaurant cooking skills; International Culinary College
Jim Morris is the founding director of the culinary arts program at The Art Institute of Atlanta. A Certified Culinary Educator (C.C.E.) with the American Culinary Federation, he came to Atlanta from Baltimore’s International Culinary Art Institute where he was coordinator of special services and administrator of evening programs. Prior to joining academia, he was executive chef at Cal Bitner’s Restaurant, and garde manger chef for the Pimlico Hotel and Martin’s West Catering, all in Baltimore.
Jeanie Newton
A.A., culinary arts, The Art Institute of Atlanta; Certificate, Georgia School of Bartending and Beverage Management
With more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, most recently coordinating county-wide concessions for a local recreation department, Jeanie Newton has planned menus, cooked and prepared food, shopped, and maintained inventory for concession stands. She has also worked as cook and bartender at Carlos McGhee’s Bar and Grill, Brandy’s Bar and Grill, and Mothershucker’s Oyster Bar and Grill. She is currently the evening pastry chef for Dolce, a hotel and conference center.
Scott D. Sonnenberg
M.F.A., film and television production, Chapman University; B.S., psychology, Old Dominion University
Currently a faculty member at The Art Institute of Atlanta in digital filmmaking & video production and audio production, Scott Sonnenberg also serves as video journalist for North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. with Snippies Marketing and Research Production, and is a freelance producer and editor.
Arthur Douglas Thayer
B.F.A., design, Rhode Island School of Design
Arthur Douglas Thayer founded Bethel Thayer Art and Design, a consulting firm to the home furnishings industry, in 1985. In addition to serving clients such as Target and Georgia-Pacific, he has taught marketing seminars at Georgia State University, the Rhode Island School of Design, The Art Institute of Atlanta, and other institutions.
Nicolas Walker, C.C.
B.S., culinary arts management, The Art Institute of Atlanta; A.B., Georgia Military College
Chef Walker is currently banquet chef at the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead/Au Pied de Cochon in Atlanta. He moved from Athens (GA), where he was kitchen manager and catering supervisor for Food Works, swing chef at the Athens Country Club, and shift manager at the Last Resort Grill. He is a Certified Culinarian (C.C.) through the American Culinary Federation.
Justin Ward
A.O.S., culinary arts, The Culinary Institute of America
Justin Ward is currently the owner of Leapfrog Restaurant Solutions, a consulting firm, and chef/owner of Hungry Monkey Catering, both in Atlanta. He was chef/owner of Harvest and Cosecha restaurants, following experience at LeGiverny, Brasserie Le Coze, Chef’s Café, and 103 West.
Taian Wang
M.S., interior design, Pratt Institute; B.F.A., fine art, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan; architectural degree, Wha-Sha Technical College, Taiwan
A member of the interior design faculty at The Art Institute of Atlanta, Taian Wang was named faculty of the year in 2002. A member of the American Society of Interior Design (ASID), he also is a freelance designer.
Samuel P. Worley
M.Ed., instructional technology, Troy State University; B.F.A., interior design, The Art Institute of Atlanta
A senior computer lab technician at The Art Institute of Atlanta, Sam Worley has worked as a CAD manager/animator for Atlanta CAD Services, and as a retail store designer for Precision Fixtures and Graphics.