CBU Names New Dean for College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design
Riverside, Calif. (April 15, 2024) – California Baptist University (CBU) announced this week that Dirk Dallas has been named dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD). Dallas owns two successful creative brands and serves as an associate professor of graphic design and visual experience, as well as the lead of the CBU graphic design program. He will assume the role of dean on July 1, 2024.
"I am deeply honored to step into the role of dean, and I am eager to lead our CAVAD community with vision and dedication," Dallas expressed. "In the dynamic realms of art and design, we are poised not just to keep pace but to set the standard. At CAVAD, we aspire to be a premier institution where faith and creativity intersect with excellence. My goal is to guide our college in creating work that is good, true and beautiful, ultimately using creativity as a bridge to live out the Great Commission by embracing the Great Commandment of loving God and our neighbor as ourselves."
Dallas brings to the role a rich blend of industry, entrepreneurial and academic experience. His 23 years of multidisciplinary design work has led to a wide-ranging background that includes graphic design, art, cinematography, photography, motion design, 3D, print, social and web design. Through his own creative agency, he has developed award-winning brand and advertising campaigns for major brands including Nike, Google, Disney, Ford, NASA and General Electric as well as nonprofit and missional work for organizations such as Charity Water, the CS Lewis Study Center, Experience Mission and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.
Dallas was a pioneer in the use of drones for creative purposes, experimenting with unmanned photo and video capabilities in the sky before it became a staple in the industry. His company, From Where I Drone, was founded in 2016 and has amassed a social media following of more than 200,000 drone enthusiasts. As an expert, Dallas has developed instructional material for drone users, been interviewed for numerous news outlets and podcasts, and has had his work featured in such media outlets as Travel and Leisure, Forbes, USA Today and the Washington Post. He also was invited to publish a book with Rizzoli New York titled “Eyes Over the World,” which became a top-selling book on Amazon.
“Dirk brings an enthusiasm for art and design and a commitment to his craft that are sure to springboard CAVAD into its next years of success,” said Dr. Chuck Sands, CBU provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs. “He has been a tremendous asset to CBU over the years. His vision for the dean role starts with progress on day one, and I am excited to see how far Dirk can take this college now that he has the reins.”
Dallas was named CBU’s 2022 Distinguished Professor of the Year and is largely responsible for elevating the design program’s profile through industry recognition. A multiple American Advertising Federation ADDY award winner himself, Dallas encourages his students to submit their work for professional evaluation. His efforts led to CBU design students being more recognized than at any other time in the program’s history. In 2023, they not only swept all seven Gold ADDY awards at the local level but also captured five national ADDY awards.
He succeeds Mark Roberson, M.Arch, the founding dean of CAVAD, who has led the college since 2012. The program experienced tremendous success under Roberson’s leadership, growing from 173 students in just three programs when it started to 621 students in nine programs in 2024.
“CAVAD is at an integral point in its evolution,” said Roberson. “I cannot think of a better leader than Dirk to drive CAVAD into the next decade of excellence and growth.”
Dallas earned his Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and marketing from California State University, San Bernardino and a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Visual Experience from Savannah College of Art and Design.
CAVAD is one of the largest Christian design colleges in the country, with nearly 20 program offerings, including undergraduate and graduate degrees and minors. In CAVAD, all students experience the program’s interdisciplinary approach, which offers unique and unlimited opportunities for collaboration, inspiration and a deep and well-rounded education rooted in a Christian worldview. Building on this foundation, CAVAD works to expand its program offerings to ensure students continue to receive the most innovative and comprehensive education available.