TOM BEATTY – BSWD CHAIR

Tom Beatty BSWD Chair

Tom Beatty

Tom Beatty–tech connoisseur and web design enthusiast–is Neumont College’s degree chair for the Web Design and Development program. After joining Neumont’s faculty in 2013, his potential was evident, and he was quickly promoted to degree chair one short year later.

As a child, Tom describes himself as being a computer geek long before it was cool. He began coding at just 12 years old and knew then that his career would include computers in some capacity. In college he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer art from Savannah College of Art and Design. Looking back, Tom recalls not making a conscious decision to pursue tech, but rather computer science chose him.

After graduation, Tom launched into a successful career where he taught at his alma mater, Savanna College of Art and Design, for a few years before launching his own company. This shift included owning and operating a web design and development company for over 16 years, specializing in creating websites, internet games, animation, digital video, and online training courses. His résumé also includes work with well-known clients including Frito-Lay, CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese), Boy Scouts of America, Tribune, B.U.M. Equipment, and Paws, Inc. (owners of Garfield the Cat).

When asked what drew him to the web design facet of tech, he attributed his allure in two trains of thought. “First was the fact that I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I really love and am passionate about art, coding, user experience, digital video, interface design, and game development. The web allows me to bring all those passions together. The other great attraction to web is that I can create something, put it online, and immediately, someone on the other half of the globe can see it and experience it. That’s so amazing to me, even though I’ve been doing it for decades,” said Tom.

Tom credits his transition into teaching full-time to his long and successful career in industry. Bringing his life experience into the classroom enhanced his ability to better guide and prepare his students for the same industry he spent years in. After seven years an instructor, Tom is still enjoying his career change, “I love coding and design because I get to create things, but now I get to help create designers and developers that have limitless potential.”

Just as web technologies are constantly evolving, so is our BSWD program. In the last year, Tom spearheaded two new courses–Projects in Full-Stack Development I and II–where students learn more about testing their code and creating server-less web applications in the cloud. Next year, Neumont is debuting a new Projects in Web Security course in which web design students will work alongside information system students to create secure web content on secure servers. It’s clear that the future is bright for the Web Design and Development program with Tom at the helm.