New Hampton School alumni have a long history of giving back, especially when it comes to supporting current Huskies. Over the last few years, the Advancement Office has established several programs that provide our alumni the opportunity to reconnect and reengage with their alma mater by giving their time and knowledge.
Alumni in Residence
Our Alumni in Residence program traditionally offers the opportunity for alumni to return to campus for a two or three-day immersive experience, where they share their professional expertise through classroom visits, student focus groups, or club work, and attend Community Dinner followed by a speaking engagement with our entire community. Given the current climate, these have looked a little different. On March 1, we welcomed Rex Dickson ’91 for our second Alumni in Residence program of the year to hear about his career experience in game design.
After graduating from New Hampton School, Rex attended Marist College where he was a member of the football team and majored in communications with a focus on television and film. He has always had a passion for design and gaming and was lucky to be able to turn his passion into a career.
A Career in Design
Rex worked for EA Sports for over a decade as a Lead Designer and Creative Director for EA Sports Football Group, most notably on EA’s well-known sports game, Madden Football. Today, Rex has taken his skills to Sony where he is a Lead Designer for their newest entity (announced in early 2021), Sony Immersive Music Studios, which focuses on developing immersive music experiences through the power of creativity and technology.
While he couldn’t detail much about his newest venture with Sony, he shared with us his story and how he turned a passion for gaming into a career he loves. Rex explained the many different aspects of games–from story creation to the technology behind animation—and shared several valuable life lessons with our students.
Rex graciously took time to meet with our current Esports team providing them with encouragement and gaming tips. The realization that a passion for a non-traditional subject can provide a lifetime of creativity, excitement and a successful career was clear.
If you’re interested in joining us in the classroom, providing an internship opportunity for a current student, or wish you hear more about the opportunities available to get involved, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@newhampton.org.
