Rob Kissner, founder and president of the Digital Arts Experience, has joined the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Iona College in New Rochelle as its inaugural designer-in-residence (DIR). He will work on creating a dynamic makerspace experience at the Hynes Institute where students can tinker, design, create and build prototypes for new ideas as they strive to solve real-world challenges.
Iona”™s Makerspace Experience will commence during the spring semester, including a dedicated makerspace at the Hynes Institute”™s 3,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art coworking and learning space. Pop-up makerspace experiences across campus will also introduce Iona students to the power of making and creating to foster creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We are truly delighted to bring these prototyping capabilities to our space on Iona”™s campus,” said Christoph Winkler, Ph.D., endowed professor and founding program director at the Hynes Institute. “Having Rob on board as DIR will help us build an exciting experiential program for our students as we continue to establish ourselves as the leading interdisciplinary entrepreneurship and innovation program in the region.”
Kissner, who started with the Hynes Institute as an adjunct lecturer in 2018, said “”¦The new DIR position brings a whole new level of opportunity to Iona students, providing them with space, tools and support in their exploration of prototyping and making”¦.”
In 2012, Kissner founded the Digital Arts Experience, whose mission is to offer kids and teens in the community with access and exposure to the world of creative technology in a fun and safe environment. It provides programming to hundreds of local kids.
Established in 2017, the Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. The Hynes Institute was established through a record-setting $15 million gift from James P. Hynes ”™69, ”™01H and Anne Marie Hynes.
