{"690175":{"#nid":"690175","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Computational Media Grad Builds at the Intersection of Computing and Music ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJack Hayley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019s path through Georgia Tech\u2019s computational media program centers on exploring how sound and software work together across film, games, and interactive media.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore arriving in Atlanta, Hayley attended Yew Chung International School in Chongqing, China, where he completed the Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) program, before returning to the United States to earn an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma from the Utica Academy for International Studies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith longstanding interests in computer science (CS) and digital music, he sought a program that would allow him to develop both simultaneously.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI wanted a program that had a strong technical foundation but with creative applications in music,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s computational media program stood out for its connection between the College of Computing and the School of Music. By choosing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/threads-better-way-learn-computing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ethreads in Intelligence and music technology\u003C\/a\u003E, Hayley explored the intersection of the two disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECreating Through Code and Sound\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Tech, Hayley explored computing and creativity through programs such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/teams-all-in-one\/entry\/1309\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERobotic Musicianship VIP\u003C\/a\u003E. He credits Center for Music Technology Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EGil Weinberg\u003C\/strong\u003E and Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EAmit Rogel\u003C\/strong\u003E with pushing him to do his best work and for strengthening his confidence in blending technical and artistic approaches.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat blend of mentorship and experimentation carried into his broader creative practice. As technical director of Baja Badlands Productions, a film and multimedia studio he co-founded, he composes music, designs sound, and manages technical production, including the studio\u2019s website.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the studio\u2019s recent short films, \u003Cem\u003EMyopia\u003C\/em\u003E, was showcased at several film festivals and received recognition for its original score and cinematography.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe has also collaborated with Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/student-organizations\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Estudent organization VGDev\u003C\/a\u003E and indie developers to create audio for video games.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI find this to be a great avenue for my combined interests, as creative control of audio often requires software implementation to achieve immersive sound,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong his favorite projects is \u003Cem\u003ESleighers\u003C\/em\u003E, a game he co-led. The project integrated networking systems, 3D modeling, level design, and immersive audio, and was later exhibited at DreamHack Atlanta, where the team gathered feedback from players and developers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearning and Leadership\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond creative production, Hayley developed technical and leadership skills as a teaching assistant for \u003Cem\u003ECS 1332: Data Structures \u0026amp; Algorithms\u003C\/em\u003E, eventually becoming a head TA.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe role challenged him to communicate complex ideas,\u0026nbsp;support students one-on-one,\u0026nbsp;and coordinate with large instructional teams, thereby deepening his understanding of core CS principles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing a TA reinforced my understanding of CS concepts as I designed assignments and explained material clearly,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also contributed to course development by helping design assignments and synchronous assessments that emphasized application-based learning. His work was recognized by Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Teaching and Learning with the Online TA of the Year award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe credits faculty mentors, including School of Computing Instruction (SCI) faculty member \u003Cstrong\u003EFrederic Faulkner\u003C\/strong\u003E and Interim Chair \u003Cstrong\u003EMary Hudachek-Buswell\u003C\/strong\u003E, for shaping his growth as an educator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey\u2019ve both been instrumental in my development as a leader, and I admire their determination to strengthen the quality of CS undergraduate education at Tech,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring his time at Tech, Hayley interned as a software development engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Atlanta, where he worked on an infrastructure-based solution. The experience reinforced the importance of adaptability in the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat I\u2019ve found from this experience is that software development is not a skill that is solidified once; instead, it necessitates continual lifelong learning,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduation, Hayley will return to AWS as a full-time software development engineer while continuing his creative work in film and game development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe encourages other students to take full advantage of interdisciplinary opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTake advantage of the opportunities Tech has to offer with respect to technology and creativity,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI found tailoring these components towards a blend of CS and music allowed me to get the most out of my time here.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJack Hayley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019s path through Georgia Tech\u2019s computational media program centers on exploring how sound and software work together across film, games, and interactive media.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jack Hayley\u2019s path through Georgia Tech\u2019s computational media program centers on exploring how sound and software work together across film, games, and interactive media. 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