Ricardo Navarro

Academic experience

• Professor of interior design/graduate coordinator, 2016–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
  Deliver quality education in undergraduate and graduate courses. Assist the department in monitoring progress and developing student initiatives to promote student community and academic success. Coordinate all candidacy and thesis reviews to improve thesis completion rates. Provide workshops for SCAD Day and departmental student learning.

• Interior design department academic director, 2007–16, Miami International University of Art & Design, Miami, FL
  Provided academic leadership to the university. Selected, trained, developed, managed, and led faculty and staff team members. Planned and implemented a budget including personnel requirements, program expenses, and capital needs. Supported university programs designed to achieve student completion rates as outlined in the five-year strategic plan. Developed M.F.A. program Fall 2007 to international notoriety. Served as thesis director for all candidates, leading them to publications and academic educational conference presentations. Completed programmatic accreditation, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) for the B.F.A. interior design program. Responsible for managing four programs as Academic Director of Design: Interior Design, Advertising, Graphic Design, and Web Design. Member of the university-wide executive team to prepare and successfully attain SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accreditation. Worked closely with institutional effectiveness director to achieve desired metrics in design programs. Member of the university strategic plan team.

• Assistant professor, 2002–06, Florida State University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  Member of website reorganization committee for the School of Visual Arts and Dance. Received first-year professor grant. Awarded graduate faculty status and guided 15 students as M.F.A. thesis director. Awarded university-wide undergraduate teacher of the year.

Professional experience

• Design architect, 2006–08, Adache Group Architects, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  Presented drawings for conceptual/schematic design phases. Focused on hospitality design and multifamily development from 6,000 square-foot condominiums to 1,400-room hotel design projects. Designed high-end, 4-5 star hospitality developments.

• Designer/CAD project manager, 2004–05, Pirate's Landing Marina, Tallahassee, FL
  Part of the developing team for 48 condominium units on the Florida coast. Built elevation studies, site studies, and floorplan designs. Created schematic CAD development of construction drawings.

• Architectural technician, 1999–2002, State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, Tallahassee
  Design implementation and construction document development of in-house projects and commercial design planning. Developed legislative budget request.

Certifications

• NCIDQ Certified