Retiring Faculty Honored as Professors Emeriti
Doug Akagi & Steve Reoutt Recognized for Service of Distinction
San Francisco, May 8, 2008
Commencement at CCA is a time for beginnings and endings alike; while graduating students, still exhausted from completing their thesis exhibitions, are eager to embark on their new careers, other CCA community members are winding down, stepping back, and embracing their well-deserved retirements.
Two such notable faculty members, whose combined years of teaching within CCA's graphic design community exceed half the college's actual years in existence(!), are Doug Akagi (24 years: January 1984 to May 2008) and Steve Reoutt (41 years: January 1967 to May 2008).
Akagi is a founding member of the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA) who holds more than 150 awards in his field.
Reoutt is the recipient of the AIGA's Fellowship Award (2001) "For personal and professional contributions to raising the standards of excellence within our design community."
Each was honored Tuesday evening at a posh, heart-warming gathering held at the Graduate Writing Studio where fellow faculty, administrative leaders, students, and family and friends collected to pay tribute and celebrate the accomplishments of these two extraordinary educators.
During the program, each of the honored guests was "bestowed by resolution of the board the status of professor emeritus of graphic design … in recognition of their service of distinction as respected teacher, exemplary mentor, and cherished colleague." (Wow! That's better than a gold watch by anyone's standards.)
Newly appointed CCA President Stephen Beal presided, sharing with the group seemingly endless accolades, praises, first-hand student testimony, and personal insights about both men—far too many to list here (though it's likely the next issue of Glance will highlight each gentleman's epic list of accomplishments).
CCA Director of Research & Planning David Meckel and Visual Studies professor Leslie Becker each showered Akagi and Reoutt with additional praises that illustrated their unstinting spirit to CCA's community, all while an accompaniment of acoustic guitar filled the room (compliments of The Real Placebos) and the stellar Suzy Bettinger Catering folks provided the creme de la creme of the evening—literally).
According to Cinthia Wen, current Graphic Design Program chair: "CCA is indeed losing a wonderful resource, but Steve Reoutt's teaching lives on in those he has taught and in those who have since returned to teach at CCA." (His collected slide archive of the history of graphic design and visual communication has provided an invaluable resource for faculty in creating classes and lectures.)
Wen said about Doug: "He exemplifies what we try to teach and promote within the CCA community and within the Graphic Design Program—to appreciate, create, participate … and the ability to think beyond oneself and to give with sincerity."
And so while giving a gold watch may be a standard retirement gesture, ironically it's the two most recent CCA retirees who've given back to CCA a gesture of timelessness.
Congratulations (and many, many thanks) to Doug Akagi and Steve Reoutt on their retirement from CCA. We are indebted to each of you.
Can't get enough of Doug & Steve? See CCA Snapshots on Flickr.
Doug Akagi's (l) and Steve Reoutt's combined contributions will inspire for years to come.
CCA President Stephen Beal between Steve (l) and Doug at their retirement party.
Director of Career Services Olivia Martinez (l) and Cinthia Wen, Graphic Design chair
CCA Director of Research & Planning David Meckel pays tribute to Reoutt and Akagi.