Program Coordinator and Lead Faculty
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology
Richland College 

“Software does not create good art and design — you do. Challenge yourself by bringing good art, design and storytelling skills to the computer. For example, a carpenter can buy the most expensive tools but never be truly good at what he or she does. A carpenter with the least expensive tools and good design skills can be brilliant.”

Jeremy Roden holds a bachelor’s degree in art from the School of Visual Arts at the University of North Texas (UNT) and is completing a master’s degree in educational administration at Concordia University Texas in Austin. He is also certified in art education by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. A traditional painter and sculptor by trade, he believes quality work begins with good design, concept art and storytelling.

Jeremy studied painting, sculpture and drawing at UNT’s School of Visual Arts. He and two fellow art students wanted to earn a degree in computer graphics — the only problem was, the university didn’t offer one. The three students approached the university’s dean and provost, argued their case, found a professor to serve as advisor, secured a little funding for software and designed their own computer graphics education by founding the A.N.D. (Absolutely No Degree) Computer Graphics Society. In the end, backed by UNT’s renowned art program, the three taught themselves and others what was then rare at the university level: 3-D computer graphics.

As a freelance artist, Jeremy has worked in film and video production, game cinematics and 3-D simulation. His credits include computer-graphics (CG) lighting and special effects on Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon’s Oscar-nominated film “Jimmy Neutron” as well as 3-D layout for two television episodes.

Throughout his professional work in the CG industry, Jeremy has volunteered his time to advocate computer graphics education in Texas high schools. Since 1998, he has been at the forefront of computer graphics education in Texas.

Jeremy is a strong advocate for educational programs that are affordable, rigorous and relevant to the high demands of the computer graphics industry. He feels Richland College’s Interactive Simulation and Game Technology program does just that and gives students an excellent start on their career.

In addition to his teaching and administrative workload, he’s also writing a book of short stories titled “Halfway,” based on his father’s childhood in a small 1950s west Texas farming community, and is producing a 30-second computer-animated introduction for it.