USC Hired Theme Park Creative Lead for Academic Post
The University of Southern California appointed Steve Tatham to oversee its training program for themed entertainment.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Internships
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The University of Southern California appointed former Universal creative executive Steve Tatham as the director of its Themed Entertainment Program. The program, based in the USC School of Cinematic Arts, trains students in narrative storytelling for retail and theme park venues.
Why it matters
The university is leveraging industry veteran leadership to guide students entering the in-person entertainment sector. This appointment signals an attempt to align academic curriculum with the high-level design expectations of major entertainment operators.
The program operates as a singular unit within the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Interactive Media & Games Division. It provides vocational training for students entering the design sector for museums, retail, and theme parks.
The players
Steve Tatham
An industry veteran with creative leadership experience at Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Parks & Resorts.
University of Southern California
A major research university in Los Angeles that operates a specialized program for themed entertainment design.
The details
The Themed Entertainment Program prepares students to design immersive narratives for physical environments. Steve Tatham joins the faculty following a career that includes senior roles at Walt Disney Imagineering, vice president of creative for Universal Studios Japan, and executive creative director for Universal's Epic Universe.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: The University of Southern California announced the appointment.
Market Landscape
The hire aligns the program with the standard of the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Interactive Media & Games Division. It represents an effort to bridge academic training with the professional demands of theme park and retail designers.
Operators in the themed entertainment sector should monitor this program as a pipeline for specialized creative talent. Firms looking to recruit entry-level designers may benefit from engaging with students trained under Tatham's industry-aligned curriculum.
The takeaway
This hire underscores a growing preference for industry-seasoned leadership in specialized creative education. Monitor the program's output to identify new talent pools for your design and narrative development needs.
Further reading
For broader trends in industry-focused professional development, browse the Internships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
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