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Karl Rouse

Associate dean, School of Film and Acting

Education

  • M.A., performance studies, New York University
  • B.A., performing arts, University of Salford

Credentials

  • Professor of film and acting, Winter 2022—present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
  • Programme director, 2016–2022, London College of Fashion, University of Arts London
    Led a team of ten academics, including five course leaders, and five senior lectures. Managed up to 70 Hourly Paid Lecturers each Academic Year. Worked with a team of 15 technical members of the Performance Team, and two course administrators. Responsible for the learning experience of 300 students at undergraduate and postgraduate level studying areas such as Costume for Performance, 3D Effects for Performance & Fashion, Hair, Make-Up and Prosthetics for Performance, and Fashion Curation. Sat on the Senior Leadership Team within the School of Media and Communication. Improved visibility of Performance at LCF across UAL and in National Media. Focused the curriculum on leadership, resilience, presentation, communication, performance design, producing, and entrepreneurial skills in addition to design and make. Increased industry collaborations, leading the Situating Your Practice Unit, and placing 90 students in work placements each year which have included experiences in China, USA, Paris, and Mexico. Reviewed the student-facing and student-centered design of all courses in the programme to create more student choice and ownership of the learning experience. Worked with the disability service at UAL to ensure our curriculum was inclusive at the point of design. Led three undergraduate courses through College Framework Review and revalidation to create outward-facing assessments and efficiency across the programme. Led college-wide initiatives on diversity and internationalizing the curriculum, including how to "think differently" in partnership with The National Theatre. Developed and led new international partnerships with HungKuang University in Taichung, World on Wearable Arts in New Zealand and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. Enhanced previous partnerships with Columbia University and New York University.
  • Director of studies, 2015–16, The Court Theatre Training Company
    Led this alternative provider through the introduction of NSS and TEF. Completed QAA Audit and authored of the college prevent strategy. Created course materials and online resources.
  • Assistant principal, 2014–15, Studio School Trust
    Delivered a 100% graduation rate with results typically being one grade higher than the national average. Raised standards of teaching, learning, and inclusive assessment, which allowed the school to achieve the top rating of Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted in 2015.
  • Consultant in course design and development, 2014, The Arbour
    Supported this non-profit organisation in the development of course materials, workshops, and project design to assist communities of migrant women who recently arrived in the United Kingdom to establish community and access services
  • Senior lecturer and course leader, 2004–14, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, The University of London
    Increased student satisfaction rate to 92%. Managed an annual course budget of £90,000, 25% of which came through income generation, including grants. Averaged 7% under budget while completing 100% of projects on schedule, 65% ahead of schedule. Increased recruitment by 500% over 10 years with a retention rate of 97%. Increased the number of outreach projects and community engagement by over 40%, reaching over 10,000 participants. Served as pathway Leader for the UK's first undergraduate degree in puppetry. Ranked as "world leading for research outcomes" by The Research Excellence Framework.

Awards, recognitions, and honors

  • British Fulbright Scholars Association, 2001–present
  • Royal Society of the Arts, 2002–present
  • Centre for Excellence in Training for Theatre, 2008–11

Publications and presentations

  • "Performance Design," presented at World of Wearable Art, Wellington, New Zealand, 2018.
  • "Performance Design," presented at HungKuang University, Taiwan, 2018. 
  • "Alpha Females: Rebels, Fighters, Women," presented at Here East, 2018.
  • "Diversifying Leadership," presented at The Leadership Foundation, London, 2018.
  • "Unavoidable - strategies for closing the attainment gap," presented at Central HR, UAL, London, 2018.
  • "Unavoidable - strategies for closing the attainment gap," presented at Vision 22, UAL, London, 2017.
  • "NSS for alternative providers," presented at Hefce, London, 2016.
  • "NSS for alternative providers," presented at Buckinghamshire New University, 2016.
  • "The Accidental Festival," presented at PACE University, New York, USA, 2013.
  • "Problematizing Theory through Practice," presented at the Relationship Between Art Making and Theoretical and Public Brown Bag Professionolinalization Session, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Detroit, USA, 2013.
  • "Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement," presented at Laurier Brantford University, Brantford, Canada, 2013.
  • "On Producing," presented at Brantford University and Brantford Arts Block, Brantford, Canada, 2013.
  • "When students believe success is possible they will try," presented at Entrepreneurship Educators Conference, Sheffield, Sept. 2013.
  • "The Accidental Festival: An entrepreneurial model of student owned practice," presented at League of Institutes of the Arts, Utrecht and Amsterdam, July 2013.
  • "Conversations on Performance Arts," presented at PACE University, New York, Feb. 2013.
  • "Prague Quadrennial," presented at Scenofest Contributor, 2011.
  • "Conversations on Black British Play-writes," presented with Dr Henry Atwater, Bola Agbaje, Tarell Alvin Mccraney and Roy Williams, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London, 2011.
  • "The Entrepreneurial Artist," presented at The University of Salford, Manchester, 2010.
  • "Conversations on the Role of the Immigrant Artist with Saviana Stanescu," presented at The Roundhouse, London, 2009.