Brennen Dicker, a film and video professional with 20 years of experience, has been named executive director of Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute.

Before joining Georgia State, Dicker was the general manager of Atlanta operations for SIM International, a company that provides production and post-production services to the film industry. In that role, he worked with companies such as HBO, Warner Bros. Television, AMC and Netflix.

He also was the chair of the Atlanta Advisory Council for the Savannah College of Art and Design. As chair, he helped to create an international festival to showcase trends in design and innovation for media production and intensive 48-hour media production workshops for students.

“The opportunity that lies ahead for CMII is incredible, and I am deeply honored to lead the next chapter of CMII,” Dicker said. “By focusing on creativity, innovation, and collaborative partnerships with industry, we will connect our students and faculty with opportunities locally as well as internationally.”

Dicker is an executive board member of the Georgia Production Partnership and the chair of its government relations group. Through the organization, he has been an industry liaison for the state legislature and governor’s office. In addition, he was chair of the steering committee for the 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which is the largest film festival in Georgia. He is a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

“Brennen Dicker has a deep and valuable knowledge of the film industry and will be able to bring students, faculty and industry together to incubate new ideas and technologies in the unique environment of CMII,” said Sara Rosen, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

CMII is a cross-college disciplinary institute, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of the Arts.

“The College of the Arts is excited to welcome Brennen Dicker to CMII, and we look forward to integrating our film, media, visual arts and music programs with the center’s next-generation technology under his leadership,” said Dean Wade Weast. “His broad experience and connections to Atlanta’s production industry strengthen our ability to provide students an innovative, competitive education.”

The founding director of CMII, professor David Cheshier, will take over as the academic director of the institute, with a joint appointment in CMII and the Department of Communications.

Dicker’s appointment as executive director of the CMII is part of Georgia State’s efforts to fulfill its strategic plan, aimed at elevating the university’s reputation for excellence and innovation in research, scholarship and creative endeavors. The CMII aligns with a strategic goal to highlight the arts and media, and to use the university’s strengths to create opportunities for exploration of the intersections among creativity, technology and entrepreneurship as metro Atlanta’s media industries in film, television, gaming and more form a vital part of the regional economy.