Interview #003: Todd Saperstein of Virginia Marti College of Art & Design

About Today’s Subject:
Todd Saperstein

Creator of: JETEYE Project
Day Job: Educator / Graphic Design Dept. Chair
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Website: www.vmcad.edu

Discovering a Passion for Teaching

We’ve all heard the phrase “follow your passion.”  To me, it often feels like an oversimplified answer to the all important question of, “What should I do with my time here on Earth?”  Sure.  Follow your passion.  I buy that.  But that provides no help at all in answering the more challenging questions like (a) How do I figure out what I’m passionate about? or (b) How do I decide which of my many passions I should pursue?  Todd Saperstein has figured out how to answer these questions though because it’s obvious from my conversation with him that he’s driven by a deep sense of purpose and a passion for teaching.

Todd was a speaker at the 2011 Weapons of Mass Creation Fest in Cleveland where I met up with him just after his talk.  We discussed the transition from the private sector to teaching, how he deals with struggles, his advice on believing first and asking why later, and how he gets unstuck.

Two Big Lessons that Stood Out from My Conversation with Todd

1. You Can’t Be Afraid to Change Direction. Todd found deeper meaning by leaving the private sector to go work as an educator. It’s a leap many are tempted to make but few actually do.  Todd worked for years as the Senior Designer at Ernst & Young in Cleveland (and prior to that at American Greetings and a sign company) before going to work as an educator at the Virginia Marti College of Art & Design in Lakewood, Ohio.  He’s now the chair of the Graphic Design Department at VMCAD.  He enjoyed his time in the private sector, but he also realized it was fulfilling on a surface level.  Teaching, on the other hand, fulfills him on a soul level. If he hadn’t been willing to make a change in his life, he may not have ever experienced that deeper sense of meaning.
2. It’s Possible to Create Your Own Map within the Walls of a Traditional Job. We don’t always have to jump ship from our day job to create the map.  Sometimes we can find a way to express our true selves and unleash our creativity within our existing jobs.  (I love how much Seth Godin talks in Linchpin about bringing the artist to our work instead of keeping our artist lives and work lives separate.) One way that Todd has carved out his own path is by creating the JETEYE program (originally JEDI).  He calls it “an inspired learning and entrepreneurial mindset program.”  It’s all about instilling motivation and confidence in students to help them develop skills like public speaking, interviewing, and critical thinking.  It’s rooted in the power of roleplay and Todd’s love of Star Wars. Students roleplay as if they already possess certain skills or expertise.  JETEYE creates an environment where students can take chances by taking on another personality; if they don’t do well, it’s the Jedi that failed, not them.  When Todd started the program, he ran into resistance from some.  But he stuck with it, and now half of his students have jobs even before graduating. He credits part of this to the power of JETEYE to help students overcome fear.

Todd shared a quote with me that explains how he deals with the struggles and doubt that can come from taking a nontraditional approach to his work:

Okay, on to the videos.  You have two options this week:

1. A Taste (2-min. bonus clip).  This week’s “taste” features bonus footage not included in the full interview so be sure to check it out too.  It’s about a lesson Todd’s daughter taught him that inspired JETEYE.
2. The Feast (the full 13 minute interview). Why not spend some quality time with Todd?

Option #1: A Taste (2-min. bonus clip not included in the full interview)

Option #2: The Feast (full 13-min. interview with viewer’s guide)

Viewer’s Guide for the Full Interview

Here’s some of the ground we cover in our conversation:

• Cliffs notes version of Todd’s bio
• The jump from Ernst & Young to teaching and education
• Reflections on the private sector compared to teaching
• The JETEYE program
• How he pushes through doubts and risks
• How he gets unstuck (hint: it involves REO Speedwagon)
• Believe first and ask why later
• What’s mattered most so far

More About Todd

Todd’s official bio from the Virginia Marti College of Art & Design:

Mr. Saperstein is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration. He recently completed his Master of Arts Degree at Full Sail University in the Education Media Design and Technology program, which focused on new media and technology for use in education and business communication. He specialized in virtual learning environments and social networks, both personal and professional.

Mr. Saperstein accepted the Graphic Design Department Head position at VMCAD in October of 2002. His mission was to provide every student with the faculty, environment, and opportunity to build all of the vital skills necessary to succeed as a professional graphic designer. Saperstein confidently states, “Over the next two years, we will test every ounce of your creative skill, work ethics, and character, in order to prepare you for entry into the industry.”

Prior to his position here at the College, Mr. Saperstein worked as the Senior Designer for Ernst & Young LLP in Cleveland, responsible for creating custom proposals, marketing collateral, and brand designs both internal and external for a global client base. He has also illustrated for American Greetings, designing a line of humorous greeting cards for their European Division.

Mr. Saperstein is a proud and active member of the American Advertising Federation and the American Institute of Graphic Art.

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