SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cogswell College, one of the world's leading regionally-accredited institutions offering a unique curriculum that fuses digital arts, engineering and entrepreneurship, today announced the appointment of Dr. Deborah Snyder as chief academic officer and provost. In her new role, Dr. Snyder will oversee growth, planning and development in all of the school's educational programs.
"Dr. Snyder has a great depth of knowledge in the industry," says Janis Paulson, interim chief executive officer for Cogswell College. "She has a long history of higher education experience and was a pioneer in the adoption of online platforms in learning. Her impressive track record and proven strategic know-how make her a formidable asset to the college."
Previously, Dr. Snyder served as senior vice provost for academic programs at Strayer University in Washington, D.C., and she is the author of The New Traditionals and e-Marketing Basics. The New Traditionals examines adult learners—those 25 and over—who comprise the majority of enrollees in higher education. She has been published in numerous education and marketing journals and has presented at several high-profile conferences.
"When I first visited Cogswell, I was so impressed by what the students were learning," explains Dr. Snyder. "It's truly a creative and innovative environment for students and faculty. Cogswell's students are diverse and talented, making programs like our award-winning Project X, and others, possible."
"I look forward to being part of the Cogswell academic team that will continue Cogswell's growth trajectory while maintaining the high quality and innovative education its students have come to expect," says Dr. Snyder. "Although higher education may be experiencing significant changes these days due to new and disruptive technologies, Cogswell students and faculty seem to be comfortable working in the fast-paced world of constantly changing technology, which is so much a part of the Silicon Valley culture."
Disruptive technologies in higher education include innovative ways of delivering learning through online degrees, badges and massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Snyder continues, "Cogswell's innovative offerings in digital arts and engineering, and steadfast commitment to a leading edge learning environment, will continue to produce the next generation of workers in these dynamic industries, whatever changes for education the future may hold."
About Cogswell College
Located in Sunnyvale, Calif., in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Cogswell College is an accredited four-year institution of higher education with a curriculum that fuses art, engineering and entrepreneurship (http://www.cogswell.edu/academics/programs.php). As one of the Bay Area's premier colleges, its novel academic approach offers an integrated model that emulates the industry environment—a collaborative, project-based, learning approach that uses multidisciplinary teams to take projects from concept through the delivery pipeline.
Cogswell alumni credits include the world's best-selling video game, Call of Duty, The Sims, Need for Speed, Neverwinter, The Elder Scrolls V and blockbuster films including Life of Pi, Snow White & the Huntsman, Cars, Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Spider-Man, Harry Potter and Thor. Student-created films have garnered scores of national awards (http://www.cogswell.edu/student-work/worlds-apart.php) and Cogswell alumni have gone on to careers with Activision, DreamWorks, Disney, Electronic Arts, Pixar and Microsoft Game Studio as well as starting their own creative ventures.