UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Gary Chinn, assistant dean for digital learning in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture, has been named director of the college’s Integrative Arts program, a position he will hold concurrently with his assistant dean role.
Chinn brings administrative experience and a focus on inclusive learning design and curriculum innovation to his new role, where he will oversee an interdisciplinary major that provides opportunities for students to unite their creative and vocational interests in the arts and design with other areas such as science, technology and business.
“Gary Chinn’s extensive experience as an administrator, educator and researcher in the realm of digital learning qualifies him in unique ways to serve as the director of the Integrative Arts program, one in which online education intersects with innovative and contemporary disciplinary interests in the arts and design fields,” said B. Stephen Carpenter II, Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean. “Gary has been a longtime member of the college’s administrative team. I am thrilled he is taking on this new role to assist our college as we take important curricular steps forward.”
Since 2013, Chinn has led the Office of Digital Learning, which collaborates with faculty in the design, development and delivery of fully online programs and courses, curricular design of new academic programs, and technology integration in support of resident instruction. Chinn has also served as interim head of the Department of Graphic Design and as an Administrative Fellow in the Penn State Office of the President. Prior to joining the College of Arts and Architecture, Chinn served as e-learning manager in the College of Engineering's Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education.
“I am honored to serve as the director of the Integrative Arts program. This role offers an incredible opportunity to foster interdisciplinary connections and help students craft personalized educational journeys that reflect their diverse passions and aspirations,” said Chinn. “This program embodies the spirit of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration that is so vital in today's creative landscape, and I look forward to building on the program’s strong foundation to empower our students in forging new connections and building skills to help them thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
In addition to his administrative roles, Chinn teaches online at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for the College of Education and the College of Arts and Architecture. His courses include AA 100: Introduction to International Arts; AA 160N: The Virtual Transformational Leadership Development Experience; and LDT 832: Designing E-Learning Within Course Management Systems, among others.
Chinn’s research addresses technology-enhanced methods for the teaching of design with a focus on the impact of technology on the design studio context. His research projects also include mixed-method approaches to identifying factors in online learner affinity toward their educational institution, as well as measuring the impact of online learning modalities on general education undergraduate courses. Chinn serves on the EDUCAUSE Review advisory committee and acts as a reviewer for the Review of Educational Research. He presents at conferences on topics including alternative credentials, quality digital learning, and diversity and inclusion in online education.
Chinn holds a doctorate in learning, design and technology from Penn State’s College of Education, a master of science degree in instructional systems technology from Indiana University at Bloomington, and a bachelor of science degree in film from the University of Texas at Austin. Chinn is active in professional associations, including 1EdTech, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and the Online Learning Consortium, and has held leadership roles in the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, WCET and EDUCAUSE.