Faculty Work

Articles & Artist Lectures

I’ve had the pleasure of being interviewed by the schools that I have taught for. Please click on the image and links below to learn more.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division’s Faculty Artist Talk

:Melanie Fiander: Photographing the Human Subject

Faculty & Personal Development

In order to succeed as both an online photography professor and as a photographer, it is vital to stay up to date on new advancements within the industry. For professors, school typically offer many different types of faculty developments sessions. There are several resources for photographers to take advantage of as well; both in person and ground workshops, online courses through CreativeLive.com or Lynda.com, or tutorials offered on B&H Photo and Video - to name a few.

Photography Lecture Series

At the start of 2013, I was asked to develop a "Photography Lecture Series".  The photography lectures are designed to introduce students and faculty to contemporary photographers who specialize in different categories such as: photojournalism, multi-media, documentary, wedding, portrait, fashion, food photography, etc. Each photographer speaks about his or her own work, their business plan as well as the ethics behind capturing their images. This was an excellent project for me to work on because it allowed me to utilize my network of contacts from my own schooling and previous positions. It also allowed me to reach out to photographers whom I have admired from afar, like Alex Koloskov and Nathan Eldridge. With a small budget, we were able to bring in many talented speakers that our students really enjoyed.

Required Learning

While I was a faculty member at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, I received several e-mails notifying me of the latest “Required Learning” course.  I completed these courses in a timely manner.

Department Service

While working as an Assistant Professor and Adjunct Professor at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division (AIPOD), I was able to participate in several Department Service opportunities. On the base level of Department Service was the communication I had with my supervisors, co-workers (other faculty members), and the academic counselors. Communication included the written word via email, Skype meetings, phone call, and/or GoToMeeting sessions. Over the years, I attended several conferences and workshops hosted by AIPOD. I also had the pleasure of working as a Subject Matter Expert (SME); I successfully wrote a new course, Portraiture I, and served as a Course Revisionist for Lighting I, Lighting II, and Studio I. On a regular basis, I also reviewed our soon-to-be graduates’ portfolios; ensure they were able to successfully complete specific tasks in both the photographic and business world. At the start of job at AIPOD, I began a Photography Lecture Series as well as an educational blog.