August 1, 2019, New York, NY—School of Visual Arts (SVA) President David Rhodes has announced the appointment of Tom P. Ashe as chair of the College’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Digital Photography program, effective August 1, 2019. Ashe takes the helm after a successful run as associate chair of the program. He will succeed Katrin Eismann.

Ashe has been a faculty member at SVA for over 15 years, beginning with teaching photography and digital printmaking in the SVA BFA Photography and Video program. In 2007, he began a new role as associate chair of the MPS Digital Photography program, where he also teaches Color Management and Output, and Exhibition Printing.

“Working with Katrin to build the MPS Digital Photography program and community since its inception has been inspiring,” said Ashe. “Our supportive staff and innovative faculty are dedicated to revolutionizing the photographic practices of our diverse and talented students. As we continue and evolve to meet the needs of photography’s future, I’m beyond honored to lead this department that I love.”

Ashe established his passion for photography while he was a middle school student in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Now an educator for more than 20 years, he has been a guest lecturer at MIT, Yale University, Northeastern University and for the Association of International Photographic Arts Dealers. He received his BS in Imaging and Photographic Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and his Master of Applied Science in Photography from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to former positions with Polaroid and Eastman Kodak, Ashe’s 30-year career in photography has included work as a consultant for clients such as X-Rite, The MAC Group, AdoramaPix, and the photographers Arnold Newman and Andrew Eccles. He is a longtime member of the Society for Photographic Education and has been a frequent speaker and session moderator at its annual national conferences. Tom has written articles for Photo District News and Popular Photography, and is the author of the book Color Management and Quality Output: Working with Color from Camera to Display to Print (Focal Press, 2014). His personal photography and research explores family history, process, abstraction, and the LGBTQ community.

The MPS Digital Photography program at SVA is an intensive, one-year graduate degree program that addresses the technical and creative aspects of current digital image practices, which professional photographers and photo educators require to be at the vanguard of contemporary fine art, commercial, portrait and fashion photography practices. Within the year, the diverse and talented students excel at producing technically outstanding and conceptually compelling images and multimedia projects, and are ideally positioned to pursue gallery representation, editorial or commercial work, as well as high-end digital retouching and consulting careers.