Meet The Gurus
Ted A. Irving, BFA, MA (Film)
Ted Irving has 20 years of a combined career in educational media and broadcast journalism with experience as a sports photographer at KRIV Fox 26, news editor for NBC and ABC Houston and former director of the Hightower High School Digital Media Academy in Fort Bend ISD.
Michael Henderson (Animation)
Professor, Cartoonist, Writer, Animator; Mike serves the needs of motivating and nurturing
the students who come under his teaching providing a solid approach to the study of Animation.
His dynamic, innovative approach to teaching brings life a new energy to students who desire an understanding of the art form; Animation where emphasis on storytelling is enhanced by the visual design which when taught the practice of accurately Timed, Staged, and Exaggeration produce a very interesting result to the audience, and a maturity of the art form to the student. Basically is what Mike
does in his courses.” It often starts with the rough animation first, then as time progresses the students
become more confident and their stylistic creativity begins to show as their understanding increases, the
quality of the work is amplified”
Rhonda Jones (Interior Design)
Rhonda Jones is a passionate professional in the field of interior design. She specializes in creative collaboration. Her forte is residential design taking the project from concept to completion. Fabulous Design Solutions!
Chef Elliott Waits (Culinary)
Elliott Waits is a graduate of both the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY as well as the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. Chef Waits has worked in many facets of the Hospitality Industry, including large hotel companies, small independent restaurants, and catering companies. Born and raised in New Orleans, Chef Waits has a natural affinity for French Creole Cuisine, accented with flavors from the Deep South and Cajun Country. He has cooked with James Beard Award Winning Chef Frank Brigtsen of Brigtsen's Restaurant in New Orleans. Chef Waits teaches American Regional Cuisine at the Art Institute of Houston.
Mauricio Quiroga MSIS (Web Design)
Mauricio Quiroga is a web designer since 2003. Mr. Quiroga is passionate about clean, aesthetic, user-friendly web design. He holds a degree of Master's in Science of Information and Systems from the University of Saint Thomas. Originally he is from Bolivia, he moved to Houston on 2002 to obtain his MSIS. He founded his own company I Love Doing Websites. This company provides a wide range of web design services for small, medium and large companies in the Houston area and surroundings.
Mark Stout (Culinary)
Mark Stout is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Chef Stout has been teaching since 1998 and has been teaching at The Art Institute of Houston for the last seven years. Chef Stout describes himself as a "guy who likes to make bread". Microchips to chocolate chips, I've got you covered he quips!
David Dang (Fashion Design)
David Dang graduated with his BFA in Fashion Design and his MBA from Fordham University Business School. He has extensive experience in manufacturing, retail, merchandising, design, and production in both the US and China. David's experience extends to career sweaters, woven tops and bottoms, denim, knit wear, and washing and finishing research.
Dee Graham (Fashion Design)
Dee Graham graduated with her Master of Fine Arts in Production Technology and Design from Ohio University. She has many years of experience as a cutter, draper, stitcher, and fitter. Her experience includes working with the Houston Ballet, the Houston Grand Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama Company, and the Strand School of Performing Arts. Ms. Graham joined The Art Institute of Houston in 2013.
Gary Miller (Photography)
With an MFA from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and over 20 years experience as a commercial photographer, I am passionate about photography and creating images. I have travelled the world with my camera and am drawn to recording people and their cultures. My work has been published many times and I have had my Fine Art photography in over 100 group and solo shows. For the past 13 years I have been teaching all levels of students photography and digital image as well as still maintaining my freelance commercial photography business.