Faculty & Staff
Professional Artists. Professional Instructors.
One of the unique aspects of Nossi College of Art and Design is stacking our faculty and staff with professional artists from around Middle Tennessee.
Aside from teaching, all of our instructors have careers as active, working professionals for local businesses or they created their own businesses. Our faculty and staff have over 1,000 hours of professional experience they are passing on to our students. The ability to keep up with industry trends while teaching is a major advantage for Nossi students.
Learn from working video professionals
Your Nōssi video instructors represent the quality you expect from leading film schools in Nashville Tennessee. They’re active Nashville videographers and creative professionals who bring current industry experience directly into your classroom.
Tom Stanford B.A.
Video Program Director
Tom Stanford is passionate about visual storytelling and enjoys helping others improve their skills through teaching, mentoring, and coaching. Our instructors are professional videographers who'll teach the techniques, but it takes practice to master the craft.
Background:
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- Bachelor's degree in Photography from Texas A&M/Commerce. Worked for newspapers in TX, LA and TN.
- Photography Director at The Tennessean from 1996-2014. Led video initiatives for six years, producing daily video content for digital platforms.
- Experience in video production, covering breaking news, sports, and feature stories for web consumption.
- Video expertise in short-form content optimization, which directly applies to modern social media and digital marketing needs.
- Experience covering the NFL, NHL, SEC, music festivals and major news events.
- Involved in several multimedia projects and digital storytelling initiatives.
Learn from working photography professionals
Your instructors represent the quality you expect from leading photography colleges in Tennessee. They’re active Nashville photographers and creative professionals who bring current industry experience directly into your classroom.
Tom Stanford B.A.
Photography Program Director
“Photography is a great tool for a student to interpret and capture their world. It’s an individual exercise where a creative decides where to go, what to shoot and when to press the shutter.”
Tom Stanford is passionate about photography and enjoys helping others improve their skills through teaching, mentoring & coaching. Our instructors are professional photographers and they’ll teach the techniques, but will take a lifetime to master the craft.
Background:
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- Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Texas A&M/Commerce. Worked for newspapers in TX, LA and TN.
- Photography Director at The Tennessean from 1996-2014. Experience in digital photography, videography and creating multimedia. Coordinated visual coverage for the historic 2010 flood in Nashville, the paper was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
- Experience covering the NFL, NHL, SEC, music festivals and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
- Involved in several book projects including Nashville: Hills of Harmony, Flood 2010: Chronicled By The Tennessean, Tennessee Titans: Celebrating the First and he photographed Historic Presbyterian Churches of Tennessee.”
Learn from working illustration professionals
Your Nōssi illustration instructors are active Nashville illustrators and creative professionals who bring current industry experience directly into your classroom.
Mark Fleming
Illustration Technologies Program Director
Mark Fleming was honored as the "Best Portfolio" by the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 1989. In 1991, he joined Nashville's J.C. Bradford & Co. investment firm as Creative Director.
"Illustration students learn to see the concept of a project and tell that story visually. Our students develop the creative edge and the artistic skill set before becoming professional visual storytellers."
Learn from working design professionals
Your Nōssi graphic design instructors are active Nashville graphic designers, art directors, and creative professionals who bring current industry experience directly into your classroom. Learn the skills that clients actually use, taught by people who use them every day.
Mark Mabry, MFA, Ed.D
Graphic & Web Design Department Chair
Mark Mabry currently serves as the Graphic Design and Web & Interactive Department Chair. His active professional work in Nashville's design community ensures you're learning industry-current skills and standards.
"Beyond the fundamentals, it is imperative that graphic design degree students be encouraged to have fun, take risks, collaborate, and experiment, as each is a key ingredient in assuring their personal potential is met."
Learn from working culinary professionals
Your Nōssi culinary instructors are active Nashville chefs and food service professionals who bring current industry experience directly into your classroom.
Chef Russell Ransom MBA
Culinary Arts Chair
Russell Ransom is a seasoned Culinary Arts Instructor with a diverse background in the culinary industry. From early experiences in his grandma’s kitchen to influential roles in top establishments, Russell’s culinary journey is both inspiring and flavorful.
A graduate of The Art Institute of Washington, DC, Russell has worked in various capacities, including catering, private chef services, and as an Executive Sous Chef at The Daily Dish. With a relocation to Nashville, he contributed to the opening of Omni Resort Hotel and served as the Executive Chef at The Mount Pleasant Grille.
Russell’s expertise spans catering, restaurants, hotels, and food manufacturing. As a former instructor at the Art Institute of Nashville and Nashville State Community College, he now brings his knowledge to Nossi College of Art and Design.
Armed with an MBA from Strayer University, Russell is excited to share his passion and culinary skills. Join him at Nossi for a gastronomic adventure filled with great food and culinary tricks. Explore the world of culinary arts with Russell Ransom!
Gen Ed Faculty
Nossi Staff
Now Enrolling for Spring | Summer 2026
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