Susan Lakin

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BIOGRAPHY

Susan Lakin is a distinguished professor and transmedia producer whose career seamlessly integrates photography, digital imaging, and immersive technologies. Her academic journey began with general education studies emphasizing business at the University of Southern California. She then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Imaging from the Art Center College of Design. Pursuing her interest in new media, Susan obtained a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she served as a research assistant on a multidisciplinary project exploring multi-user online public spaces. Her thesis delved into how advanced computer technology redefines concepts of identity, relationships, and sexuality. Furthering her expertise, she completed graduate coursework in Information Technology through the Interactive Multimedia Development Program at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Since September 2000, Susan has been a professor in the College of Art and Design at RIT. With a foundation in photography and digital imaging, she collaborates across campus to develop interdisciplinary curricula bridging the arts and computer science. Her commitment to innovative education led to her appointment as a School of Individualized Study Fellow in September 2015, where she advises students in crafting interdisciplinary degrees tailored to the diverse needs of 21st-century learners. From 2013 to 2017, Susan chaired the Advertising Photography Program, successfully transitioning it from quarters to semesters, reorganizing class schedules, mentoring new faculty, and updating the curriculum to meet accreditation standards.

Beyond her academic roles, Susan has significantly contributed to the broader arts community. In May 2017, she joined the Executive Board of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), a national organization that advances interdisciplinary arts and design research, curricula, and creative practice. She also served as an editorial board member for Ground Works, an online open-access compendium of exemplary arts-integrative research and practice, from 2018 to 2021. Between 2013 and 2017, Susan was a board director at the Flower City Art Center, a community-based nonprofit that educates and inspires individuals to engage with the arts through programs in printmaking, book arts, ceramics, and photography.

Susan’s professional experience extends to her role as Director and Co-Chair of Frameless Labs since September 2017. Frameless Labs highlights research, innovation, and artistic creation in virtual and augmented reality, providing symposia and an online space for the XR community to collaborate, thereby supporting the growth of existing ventures and inspiring new projects and technologies. Her artistic practice as a transmedia producer involves engaging with immersive technology and collaborating on community projects in the nonprofit sector. Notably, she has been involved in interdisciplinary projects such as “Our Compass,” a virtual reality experience exploring the effects of trauma and the positive outcomes when communities support vulnerable individuals, and the “Space Adventure Game,” a web-based interactive game developed for the Society for the Protection and Care of Children.

Earlier in her career, from January 1985 to January 2000, Susan worked as a commercial photographer in Los Angeles and Australia, with clients including Sebastian, Adidas, Avon, Disney, and Harper’s Bazaar. She also owned and operated Hotop Photo Inc., a commercial photographic supply store in Burbank, California, from June 1989 to May 1995, serving clients such as NBC Productions, Warner Bros Studios, and Walt Disney Studios. Throughout her career, Susan has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best in Virtual Reality for “Our Compass” at the Melbourne Independent Film Festival in 2022 and the Santa Barbara International Short Fest in 2023. Her extensive experience and dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration have made her a prominent figure in the integration of arts and technology.

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