Instructors

Craig A. BerneckerCraig A. Bernecker, Ph.D., FIESNA, LC, founder of The Lighting Education Institute, directed the lighting education program within the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State University from 1981 through 1999.  During that time, the program achieved a reputation as one of the premier lighting education programs in the United States and placed more than 250 professionals in the lighting industry.

While at Penn State, Dr. Bernecker also developed a number of lighting education programs in continuing and distance education, and served on the major policy-advising body for the University's Internet-based learning structure, the Penn State World Campus.  He has published more than forty articles on research and education in lighting design and illumination engineering and is known for his work on the psychological aspects of lighting.  In addition to his educational and research activities, he has maintained an active consulting practice, providing lighting design services and serving as an expert consultant on many projects and as an expert witness on many legal cases.  He regularly serves as a peer reviewer for lighting research proposals and projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dr. Bernecker has served the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as Vice-President for Technical and Research Activities (1991-1993) and Vice-President for Educational Activities (1993-1995).  More recently, he served the Society in its highest office, as Senior Vice-President for 2003-2004, President for 2004-2005, and Immediate Past President for 2005-2006.  As a result of his contributions to lighting education, the Society named him a Fellow in 1991. 

Dr. Bernecker has also served on the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Board of Directors and as the United States Division III representative to the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), and remains on the leading edge of new techniques for enhancing learning in the field of architectural lighting practice.

In addition to his own educational initiatives through The Lighting Education Institute, Dr. Bernecker currently teaches in the Masters of Fine Arts in Lighting program at Parsons The New School for Design, and in the Graduate Architecture program at the University of Pennsylvania, and played a major role in the creation of a “Lighting Diploma” at IberoAmericana University in Mexico City.

Teaching Associates

Although Dr. Bernecker is the primary instructor for many Lighting Education Institute programs, arrangements have been made with a number of teaching associates to provide additional instruction capabilities when necessary.