FORMER PRESIDENT OF ART INSTITUTE WILL ADDRESS FIRST GRADUATING CLASS

Founding Art Institute of California – Inland Empire President Byron Chung returns to San Bernardino on Friday, March 27 as the guest speaker for the school’s first graduation ceremony. Among the graduates to be recognized there will be Alyssa Mees, who completed her requirements for an associate degree in Graphic Design a year ago, making her The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire’s first graduate. In the past 12 months, dozens more students have completed their requirements for associate and bachelor’s degrees to become The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire’s first graduating class. Chung is currently president of The Art Institute of California – San Francisco.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Former Art Institute of California – Inland Empire President Byron Chung will return to San Bernardino on Friday, March 27 to help commemorate a milestone in some of his past students’ lives. They too are leaving The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire to begin new lives as college graduates.

Chung will be the keynote speaker for these graduates’ commencement ceremony, the first ever for The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. This ceremony takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Manuel Santos Student Union at California State University, San Bernardino.

“Most of these students started at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire in 2006, when we were just starting our programs in San Bernardino, so they are almost like family” said Chung, who now serves as president of The Art Institute of California – San Francisco. “It is my honor to come back to see them complete their educational goals and receive their bachelor’s and associate degrees.”

“Byron Chung is the best choice to send our graduates into their new lives as working professional people,” said Emam El-Hout, current president of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. “It was his vision, combined with the dreams of these students, that made this Graduation Day possible.”

When he was president of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, Chung oversaw a team that built the school literally from the ground up. Under Chung’s leadership, the school moved into a 38,000 square foot campus at 630 Brier Avenue in 2005, and opened its doors to students in 2006.

Classes started with 40 students in Graphic Design, Web Design and Interactive Media, and Interior Design. Programs in Media Arts and Animation and Game Arts and Design were added later that year, and in Culinary Arts and Culinary Management in 2007.

Most recently, the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire added Fashion and Retail Management and Fashion Design to its programs. The school now has grown to more than 1,000 students and 70,000 square feet of building space, with more expansion planned in the near future.

Under Chung’s leadership the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire blossomed into an important community resource. Its students now lend their great talents to the community in many ways, such as graphic design, Web site building, event catering and helping non-profit organizations throughout the region.

Prior to serving as president of the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, Chung was a vice president and admissions specialist for Educational Management Corporation. He also previously worked as admissions director at the Art Institute of California-Santa Monica.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design.

The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start a new term at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin April 6 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information, or to arrange a tour, call Richard Green at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.


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