Richard Koshalek has been president of Art Center College of Design since 1999. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in elevating the College’s mission beyond its already recognized excellence in art and design education. Koshalek is a passionate advocate for the importance of design in addressing the critical issues of our society, and for the power of the creative individual to make a difference in the world.

Erica Clark develops relationships and programs that enhance art and design education worldwide. In addition to creating the Art Center Design Conference series, Clark led the founding of Designmatters, a College-wide initiative exploring social and humanitarian applications of design and responsible business practices. She facilitates innovative global exchanges and collaborations with other educational institutions and agencies.

Chee Pearlman is the director of Chee Company, an editorial and curatorial design consultancy in New York. In addition to serving as Program Director for The Art Center Design Conference, she also contributes to a number of publications, including Domus,Newsweek, Travel + Leisure and The New York Times. Pearlman founded and chaired the Chrysler Design Awards during its 10-year duration, and is the former Editor-in-Chief of I.D. Magazine, which won five National Magazine Awards under her direction.

www.cheecompany.com

Renowned news correspondent, author and international journalist, John Hockenberry returned for his third appearance as Master of Ceremonies for the Art Center Design Conference. Hockenberry’s innovative storytelling in print and broadcast media has earned him four Emmys, four Peabodys and two Columbia DuPont awards for journalism. Hockenberry is the author of Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence, a memoir of his life as a foreign correspondent, and the novel A River Out of Eden. He is currently co-host with Adaora Udoji of a new morning news program, The Takeaway, on National Public Radio.