Jon di Venti ’98

Jon used to get in trouble for doodling in class. Now he gets paid to doodle, and teach others how to doodle, in class.

For 9 years Jon was a full-time faculty member at the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida where he got paid to learn from the world’s most gifted animation students … and sometimes teach them a thing or two. He has somehow imparted the privilege of teaching the coolest courses in the school’s Computer Animation curriculum: Visual Development and Concept (Story) Development. Divine intervention, no doubt. Jon also served as the Course Lead for the Visual Development courses. During his time at Ringling, he had the honor of overseeing the Visual Development process for six of the college’s 14 Student Academy Award-winning animated short films. Many of his former students are currently working in some of the animation and gaming industry’s top studios including Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Blue Sky Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, etc.

In 2016, Jon left Ringling to teach in the newly established Digital Media department (now Animation & Game Art) at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, of which he has since been appointed Department Chair. He’s super excited for the opportunity to be a part of yet another cutting-edge college of art and design and hopes to contribute something of significance to this young and advancing institution.