May 2015

Jay Dompor
Lighting Designer, Cooley Monato Studio
IESNYC Campus Liaison

Q: How did you first get started in the lighting industry?
When I was working at an architecture firm in Tampa, FL, we were designing a community center for the elderly. The client requested that the center be utilized for a multiple of uses, and we started to look at lighting as a way to inform the use of the space. It was then that I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Lighting at Parsons.

Q: How did you first get involved in the IESNYC?
My involvement started when I was studying at Parsons, due to the efforts of Eleni Savvidou. When she attended Parsons, there was a thriving student chapter. But by the time I got there, the chapter was defunct. Eleni, who was on the membership committee and was already working at L’Observatoire, made the time to come to Parsons to talk to us about the IESNYC and about reinstating the student chapter. With her help and the support of the board of managers, we once again have a student chapter at Parsons. I served as president for two years and through the collective efforts of my classmates, we grew the chapter. Parsons has their own governing board that reports back to the membership committee. Thanks to the section, students were allowed to explore lighting in varied ways, providing us with resources to develop programs that were both fun and educational. We encourage students to become active in the IESNYC and particularly to create student-specific programs.

Q: How do you see your role as IESNYC campus liaison?
My role is just a specialization in the membership committee, whose goal is to help grow and foster our community. I am somewhat of a welcoming committee to the students. Originally, we had reached out to Pratt, NYSID and FIT, but it was later decided to consolidate the chapters into one with Parsons—being the most active of the four—at the helm. It is my goal to reenergize the students at the other schools to become a part of this active chapter. I've always seen involvement in the IESNYC as an opportunity for students to become better integrated into the industry and gain business and social contacts. By being that first source of welcome to the students, my hope is that the new members of the lighting industry will feel like they are becoming part of the community. Conversely, I am pleased to be a source for the already-established IESNYC members to connect with the students and young professionals. When you see the older generations of our industry interacting, there is a rapport and a history they have with one another. I wish that for the up-and-coming generations.

Q: In your opinion, what are the best assets of the IESNYC?
Community. Our industry is special because it is smaller than others. The IESNYC helps to foster that community and brings us together through education and social events. It also helps to provide a sense of belonging that is often hard to find when you first start out.