A passion for Design and Creativity, Victor Nacif attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan USA. His education continued through two summer internships at Ford Design, Ford Motor Company. He has also engaged in Executive programs at Stanford University in Business Leadership, Stanford, California, USA, as well as HEC Creative Leadership in Jouy-en-Josas, France.

Victor has lived and worked in 8 Countries and speaks fluent English, Spanish and French. His career spans 38 years in Automotive Design for Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën (now Stellantis), Ford Motor Company and Zimmer Automotive Corporation.

Victor and the NewSchool of Architecture and Design instructors apply the true meaning of Design, by instilling Human centered practices through interactions, systems and products to better our world. His continued dedication to helping a new generation of creatives in all the Design disciplines and cultures is what he considers his greatest achievement.

Steve is a third-generation residential builder and real estate developer specializing in sustainable urban infill townhouses. He is a licensed contractor and real estate broker. In addition to his work with the Foundation Steve is active in the North Park Community Association and San Diego Green Building Council.

David White is currently an Associate Professor in Architecture at the Newschool of Architecture and Design. He is also the Associate Director of Architecture Programs and the First-Year Level Coordinator at Newschool. He holds a Master of Fine Arts, University of California, San Diego with emphasis on Multi-Media and Public Culture; Bachelor of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, emphasis in Sculpture; Additional undergraduate studies at Pontificia Universidade Catolica de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. In the past he was the founder of Agitprop, a community engagement art space in San Diego, California, operated from 2007-2014; a Curatorial Consultant, San Diego Museum of Art 2010-2012, established the Summer Salon Series public engagement programming; a Public Art Committee Member, Port of San Diego 2012-2018 (chair of committee 2014 and 2016); Exhibitions include: The 2010 California Biennial, Orange County, CA; “Individuation'' at the Berliner Kunstverien, Berlin, Germany; MIFF Exhibition,Crealab, Medellin, Colombia, Being Here With You” at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, among others. Work has been included in publications such as Art Forum, Wired.com, Visual Art Source, PBS’s Art21 Blog, The San Diego Union Tribune, among others. Lecturer, University of San Diego, 2019-2022; Instructor, Woodbury University, 2014-2020; Instructor, San Diego City College, 2016-2022; Lead Art Instructor, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, day program for adults with developmental disabilities, 2006-2008.

Lena Lin supports the NewSchool Foundation and broader student community through her work in student services and financial aid administration at NewSchool of Architecture and Design. With expertise in guiding students through the FAFSA process, financial planning, enrollment coordination, and institutional requirements, Lena helps students access the resources and support they need to succeed academically and professionally. She brings commitment, clarity, and a student-first approach to every interaction, ensuring learners feel informed, confident, and empowered throughout their educational journey.

Amin Espandiari is an architectural designer, educator, and founder of DDDVisual, Inc., with a professional focus on contemporary residential design, architectural visualization, and design education.

He serves as an Assistant Professor in the undergraduate Architecture program at NewSchool of Architecture & Design, where he also holds leadership roles as Assistant Director of Interior Design, Fifth-Year Architecture Coordinator, and Assessment Coordinator for the School of Architecture.

With more than a decade of experience in architectural education, Amin is deeply committed to fostering critical thinking, creative exploration, and the integration of design theory with professional practice. His teaching philosophy encourages students to develop a thoughtful relationship between architecture, human experience, and the built environment while discovering their individual design identities.

As the founder of DDDVisual, Inc., Amin approaches architecture through the interconnected relationships of form, space, material, and context. His work explores how these elements can shape meaningful environments that balance functionality, aesthetics, and human experience. This design 
philosophy extends into his teaching, where he emphasizes the importance of conceptual clarity, technical understanding, and thoughtful design synthesis.

Through his academic leadership and professional practice, Amin remains dedicated to advancing design education, mentoring future generations of designers, and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.