Jewelry Arts Instructors

Jewelry design instructor, Robert Ackerman earned his G.G. from GIA, after graduating from a formal four-year apprenticeship with Zurich’s Trudel Juwelier and The College for Art and Design Zurich as a goldsmith. An inspirational designer and impeccable craftsman, Robert is a two time First Prize winner of the AGTA Spectrum Award, a winner of many Canadian Jeweler Magazine Buyers Choice Awards, and first prize winner of La Griffe d’Or, Quebec’s highest recognition for excellence in the trade. He is often called to serve on the juries of design competitions, has authored various articles for both consumer and trade publications, and exhibits his work in galleries in Switzerland, Canada and the U.S.

Gavin received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara prior to earning his Graduate Jeweler Gemologist diploma from GIA.  Working in the trade, Gavin applied his skills in areas like client scheduling, retail sales, wax carving, and stone setting. Under the supervision of a master goldsmith, Gavin continued to fine-tune his bench skills, eventually leading him back to GIA as an instructor in the Applied Jewelry Arts (A.J.A.) diploma program. Since 2000, Gavin has been teaching students the fine art of jewelry repair and stone setting, casting, wax carving, and jewelry manufacturing arts.

Doug graduated over thirty years ago from the Jewelry Arts Program at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada. He has owned a wholesale trade shop, a design studio and worked as a designer/goldsmith for high end custom jewelry stores. Over the years Doug has learned from his own experiences and the generosity of other goldsmiths. He has enjoyed passing that knowledge on to apprentice goldsmiths and takes pride in the fact that many of them are working successfully in the industry today. For the past two years Doug has had the pleasure of teaching the Graduate Jeweler, Mold Cutting, Casting, Advanced Setting and Basic Repair courses here at GIA.

A fourth generation jeweler, Patricia began learning her craft from her father with whom she co-founded a company that designs and makes fine handcrafted jewelry. She received a degree with honors in Jewelry Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where as a student, she also supervised FIT’s Jewelry Department labs, overseeing the safety of jewelry manufacturing procedures. After graduation, Patricia worked as a diamond grader at the International Gemological Institute (IGI), and on a contract basis for other jewelry designers such as David Yurman. Patricia holds an A.J.P. (Accredited Jewelry Professional) diploma and a GIA Graduate Diamonds certificate. While teaching design at GIA’s New York campus, Patricia is also completing the Graduate Gemologist program and learning advanced stone setting techniques.

Jerry began his jewelry career in 1983 in sales and sales management, later moving into the  manufacturing sector, managing a regional repair shop for a national retailer. In 1985 he opened a custom jewelry shop in Canton, Ohio, where he specialized in designing and manufacturing custom jewelry, and in complex repair and restoration work. In 2005, he accepted a position teaching Jewelry Manufacturing Arts at GIA in Carlsbad, CA. Along with teaching the six month Graduate Jeweler program, he also specializes in mold making and casting. Jerry has a BA degree in English and Philosophy/Theology from Walsh University in Canton, Ohio, and is a GIA Graduate Gemologist.

Doug first began making jewelry in 1973. From blacksmithing to diamond setting, and just about everything in between, he brings an equal blending of artistic, technical, and academic skills to GIA. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and has studied Diamond Grading and Colored Stone Grading at GIA. He has performed technical training at GIA laboratories around the world and brings a wealth of experience and a passion for learning to his students.

More than 20 years ago, Don acquired the skills of a stone cutter and silversmith. After earning his a Graduate Gemologist and Graduate Jeweler diploma in 1983, he worked for Ben Bridge Jeweler and later started his own business; Don Hughes Jewelers, focusing on custom jewelry and repair work. In 1999, he moved to the San Diego area and began working for GIA as a resident grader for the Graduate Jewelry Program. He became a Jewelry Manufacturing Arts instructor in 2000, and now teaches the Graduate Jeweler Program and the Associate Jewelry Arts Program, as well as Lab classes.

Currently teaching Jewelry Design, CAD/CAM, and Jewelry Manufacturing here at GIA, Mark began his career in 1985 at age 16 as an apprentice with a local goldsmith in Keene, New Hampshire. He developed his design and manufacturing skills by working for trade shops and family owned retail stores and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Metalsmithing from SUNY New Paltz. Mark’s jewelry designs have earned him recognition as a Centurion Emerging Designer winner and Saul Bell Award finalist. Always interested in educating the industry, Mark has published dozens of manufacturing articles for MJSA magazine and serves on their custom design advisory council. He is also a frequent lecturer at industry shows on topics ranging from CAD/CAM and design to advanced manufacturing. Mark has been a GIA instructor since 1997 and continues to enjoy helping the next generation grow into the industry leaders of tomorrow.

At nine, Steve started helping in his father’s jewelry store, and by high school, worked as a salesman, office clerk, designer, and jeweler. A drama scholarship got him to Bowling Green University, but after graduation, his love of jewelry design led him to the Bowman Technical School for a certificate in jewelry making and stone setting. He began his career as a designer-goldsmith in 1973 and for twenty-two years worked as a designer, bench jeweler, shop manager and owner of a studio in Santa Monica, California. He joined GIA in 1995, teaching Jewelry Manufacturing Arts, Jewelry Design, and presently CAD/CAM, the course he co-developed. The author of several articles on the subject, Steve is a sought-after speaker at industry events.