August marked the end of an era for the Digital Media Graduate Studies program within the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture. Program Director Janet Murray oversaw the program’s long-anticipated move into a new research facility in Technology Square Research Building and then after 10 years stepped down to focus on her teaching and research. She will be succeeded by Digital Media Associate Professor Ian Bogost.

A leading edge researcher and interaction designer, Murray assumed leadership of the program during the formative stages of the field of digital media.

“Janet’s vision, industry, and commitment have established this as one of the benchmark digital media programs in this country,” said Interim Dean Ken Knoespel.

In 2001, Murray reformed the curriculum for the master’s program integrating theory and practice and focusing on lasting design principles from a humanistic perspective. She recruited research-oriented practitioner/theorist faculty who are internationally recognized as leaders in the digital media field.

In 2004, Murray further raised educational boundaries in the field by establishing the first PhD in Digital Media at Georgia Tech. The program maintains a steady, funded enrollment of twenty students. Graduates of the program are in demand for job placements worldwide. For the master’s program, Murray cultivated a network of internship opportunities helping students find jobs with industry leaders including Electronic Arts, IBM, Google, Apple, IDEO, CNN, Showtime, PBS, and YouTube.

Murray achieved her broad goal to establish a research culture with multiple faculty lab groups providing funding for graduate students on sponsored research projects. She also strengthened interdisciplinary programs including the MS in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with Computing and Psychology, the BS in Computational Media with Computing, and established two 5-year BS/MS programs (with LCC/STaC and Computational Media).

Holder of the Ivan Allen College Dean’s Professorship, Murray is looking forward to spending more time on teaching and research on new forms of interactive narrative.

“It was a great privilege to lead Georgia Tech’s Digital Media program during this time of historic change. I know I leave it in excellent hands with Ian Bogost,” said Murray.

Bogost will focus on extending the success of the program and its faculty and students by refining the Masters and PhD degrees for the next decade of digital media industry, scholarship, and teaching.