Brooks Institute Forms New Alumni Association; Association Will Create Scholarship Fund for Brooks Students and Serve as Ambassadors of Institute.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Today, Brooks Institute announced the re-establishment of the Alumni Association of Brooks Institute (AABI) and named 13 individuals to serve as the Board of Directors for the Association. The Alumni Association board will be instrumental in creating programs aimed at enhancing student life on campus, establishing alumni connections and offering networking opportunities after graduation. The AABI also will provide educational seminars, guest speakers, scholarships, free career counseling to Brooks Institute students and alumni, and will promote alumni achievements through its web site and alumni newsletters.

The AABI's Board of Directors, which includes leaders who have been involved in photography since graduating from the program, will oversee the Association's ongoing business, represent and serve as liaisons between alumni at-large and the institution, and establish and monitor standing committees to ensure the ongoing operation of the Association.

"We are thrilled to revive the Alumni Association, as it will be instrumental in promoting the interests and welfare of the students and alumni of Brooks Institute," said Dr. Greg Strick, President of Brooks Institute. "Re-missioning this Association will enable us to foster a spirit of fraternity among current students and alumni, making Brooks Institute a better place for everyone."

Brooks Institute of Photography has a 60-year legacy of providing world-class visual arts education. The school has become world-renowned for its cinematography and still-work instruction, and it prides itself on its philosophy of "learn by doing." The Alumni Association, under the leadership of the Board of Directors, will provide educational services, career counseling and scholarships to alumni and students currently enrolled at Brooks.

"There's no doubt that the years I spent at Brooks Institute were pivotal in my life," said Kevin Schochat, a photographer's agent who graduated from Brooks in 1982 and is currently an AABI Board of Directors member. "Brooks provided me with the foundation to be a successful photographer, as well as an incredible network of colleagues who are still important to me today. I'm looking forward to being able to give back to the current students and help prepare them for the world of photography."

Board Members

The board members were selected based upon their involvement in the photography industry, enthusiasm and passion for serving on the board and vision for the Association. Each board member will serve for a term of three years - or until a successor has been named. The following individuals comprise the AABI Board:

--Ashlyn Jones - Jones is currently the director of creative services for Professional Dental Technologies and Life Plus International, as well as the photographer for marketing literature, products and events in the United States and in Europe. She graduated from the photography program in 1997.

--Charles Kay Jr - Kay is the owner of Laurie and Charles Photographs and his latest success was photographing Tiger Woods for his "Go on Be a Tiger" campaign. He is a 1992 graduate of the photography program.

--Mark Mosrie - Mosrie, a 1991 graduate of the photography program, is the owner of Mark Mosrie Photography and specializes in promotional photography.

--Doug Brooks - Brooks is the director of acquisition and visual resources at a Chicago-based publishing company. A 1975 graduate of the motion picture program, he has also been a member of the Advertising Photographers of America-Chicago (APA-C) were he held a board position for four years.

--Deborah Van Kirk - Van Kirk, a 1976 photography program graduate, is a self-employed still-life photographer who finds creative freedom shooting digitally for the stock photography industry.

--Dan Callahan - Callahan most recently was the president of Brandess Kalt Aetna Group, Inc., the premier distributor of photographic and digital imaging accessories in the U.S. His company was recently named the "Platinum Distributor" for Kodak Professional Products. He graduated from the photography program in 1976.

--Dick Fletcher - Fletcher, a 1995 graduate of the photography program, has enjoyed working in various capacities within the photography industry. His work has been published in national newspapers and magazines, annual reports and advertisements.

--Elissa Mraz - After working for a decade in the technology sector in Silicon Valley, Mraz moved to New York where she has returned to the visual arts industry and is currently managing photographic exhibits. Elissa graduated from the photography, film and video program in 1992.

--Elizabeth Price - Price is a self-employed photographer who brings a fresh style and professional, photographic experience to Northern Michigan with Priceless Photography, Inc. She graduated from the photography program in 1999.

--Grant Johnson - Johnson currently is involved with national and international politics as well as photography. He graduated from the photography program in 1982 and is an active participant with various non-profit organizations, volunteer activities and community service.

--John Lewis - Lewis, a 1982 Brooks graduate, has been in the photography profession for more than 20 years and has had a successful career as a fine art photographer. The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles includes 15 of his photographs in its permanent collection.

--Kevin Schochat - As a professional photographer's agent, Schochat, who graduated from Brooks in 1982, helps establish and manage photographers' careers, focusing their portfolios to maximize marketability, overseeing all promotion and directing all aspects of his client's business.

--Steven Arnold - After graduating from Brooks in 1982, Arnold worked for several years as a portrait photographer and school photographer. He graduated from the photography program in 1982.

The Alumni Association has scheduled its first official meeting this summer. It is currently planning for the annual alumni reunion in New York to coincide with the PhotoPlusExpo, the largest photography expo in the nation.

About Brooks Institute of Photography

With campuses in Santa Barbara and Ventura, Calif., Brooks Institute of Photography has a 60-year legacy of providing world-class visual arts education. The Brooks Institute offers Master of Science, Bachelor of Arts and Associate of Arts degrees and Diploma programs in the following fields of study - professional photography, visual journalism, film and video production and visual communication. Brooks' graduates are visible nationally and internationally, working for distinguished organizations including National Geographic, Smithsonian, Los Angeles Times and other national media outlets, including Hallmark Publishing, Cousteau Society, HBO, Kodak and other industry leaders in visual media fields. For more information about Brooks Institute of Photography, visit www.brooks.edu.