Joseph Lakatos will join the esteemed ranks of Ringling College of Art and Design faculty this academic year, teaching in the Business of Art and Design major and minor. 

Joseph Lakatos will lead the program’s financial literacy courses, such as Personal and Freelance Finance – one of the most popular courses for Ringling students across all majors. Lakatos brings with him a wealth of experience, further elevating the prestige and outcomes of the College’s Business program. 

Lakatos previously taught at UNC-Pembroke and served as the Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation and director of the Center of Entrepreneurship at Western Carolina University. There he created the curriculum for what has become known as the “Artrepreneurship” program. Outside of teaching, he has worked with entrepreneurs in visual and performing arts across North Carolina. 

Lakatos has used his background in accounting, finance, and law to serve as an entrepreneurial guide, advising artists in their entrepreneurial endeavors in the Asheville, NC River Arts District. He also steered the development of an incubator in downtown Asheville, so that the identity of Asheville, as a city for artists, could continue to flourish and be sustainable.

“We are privileged and proud to welcome Joseph to the Ringling College community,” said Kathleen Sobr, department head of the Business of Art and Design program at Ringling College. “His background and expertise are a perfect fit for our program and our students.” 

Learn more about Business of Art and Design and read an in-depth article on the program in Sarasota SCENE Magazine.