Taking Flight
Join us each month for conversations about continuing education, entertainment industry trends, leadership, art, and more.
Taking Flight is an original online show produced by Full Sail University and hosted by Dr. Heather Dartez, Director of Graduate Programs at Full Sail. In this show, Heather invites industry guest speakers and Full Sail graduates to discuss a wide range of topics, such as the importance of continuing education, entertainment industry trends, leadership, art, and more.
Each episode allows the audience to connect with and learn from others who are established in their careers and currently working in the entertainment industry. The show is streamed live one Thursday a month and it is also accessible on demand after each episode has concluded.
Next Episode: Thursday, September 10 at 1 PM ET
Our panelists will explore the rapidly changing landscape of high school and college athletics in the era of name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities and the transfer portal. The conversation will examine how amateur sports have evolved over the past five years, including one athlete’s firsthand experience navigating this new environment. Panelists will also address the challenges athletes face when choosing a school, evaluating NIL opportunities, and deciding whether and when to enter the transfer portal.
Watch LIVE on YouTube for Part 1 of a 2 Part series!
Dr. Heather Dartez is the Director of Graduate Programs at Full Sail University. During her tenure at Full Sail, she previously served as Program Director for the Entertainment Business Master of Science and Business Intelligence Master of Science, Department Chair and was Course Director for several classes related to digital marketing, brand development, and marketing strategy.
Dartez is also an award-winning professional artist, curator, and art entrepreneur. She specializes in the marketing and promotion of fine art, art education, illustration and book publishing, exhibition curation, and event management. As the Web Director for the National Watercolor Society, she managed the NWS website and oversaw web communications. Prior to joining Full Sail, she worked more than a decade as a sales professional, corporate trainer, marketing consultant, and Internet marketing department manager for a national property management company.
Dr. Heather Dartez has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Business Administration from Belhaven University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Southern University.
Full Sail University is an award-winning educational leader for those pursuing careers in entertainment media and emerging technologies. Founded in 1979, Full Sail has received numerous accolades throughout its over 45-year history, including most recently being named a 2026 "Top Game Design School" by The Princeton Review, one of the “Top 50 Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S.” by Animation Career Review, 2026, one of the “Best Colleges for Computer Science in America” by Niche, 2026, and named one of the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada” by MovieMaker. Full Sail University is a graduate and undergraduate degree-granting institution offering on-campus and online degree programs in areas related to Art & Design, Business, Film & Television, Games, Media & Communications, Music & Recording, Sports, and Technology. With over 100,000 graduates worldwide, Full Sail alumni have worked on countless award-winning projects with individual recognition including Oscar®, Emmy®, Grammy®, Addy® and The Game Award honors.
