As a complement to our perennial and popular special reports – People To Watch (influential professional creatives) and Students To Watch (rising graduates of note) – we add an annual “Educators To Watch” feature to our mix. The reason: design education and educators have more influence than ever on the fast-changing shape of design, media and culture. This is certainly true of todays group, who run the gamut from legends like Richard Wilde, Mary Scott, Phil Hamlett and Ellen Lupton all the way to relative newcomers, from full-timers to adjuncts, from teachers to administrators, and from those who planned a teaching career and those who found it by serendipity. The common thread is that these are people who are making a difference to their students, schools and community. In a field this broad and deep, the selection process is clearly subjective and weighted to those we know, admire and respect. We humbly invite your help in identifying our next round of educators to honor.

Richard Wilde | School of Visual Arts (SVA) Mary Scott | Academy of Art University Phil Hamlett | Academy of Art University Ellen Lupton | Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Jason Fox | SCAD Keetra Dixon | Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Matthew Flick | School of Advertising Art (SAA) Cindy Buckley Koren | PrattMWP Cate Roman | Woodbury University Eric Karnes | Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design Courtney Hurst Windham | Auburn University, School of Industrial + Graphic Design James Goggin | Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Allan Espiritu | Rutgers University Renee Colette Stevens | Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School Meaghan A. Dee | Virginia Tech Jennie Thwing | Farmingdale State University, SUNY