As department head, Keyes oversees personnel, services, facilities, budgets, technologies, planning, assessment and training. Keyes also will proactively pursue and administer external grants and funding opportunities to expand departmental programs and resources. Finally, he will champion the responsible development and promotion of media and maker technologies to advance the department's mission in support of learning and scholarship.

The Creative Technologies and Scholarship department manages The Workshop, a cutting-edge makerspace and multimedia hub on the lower level of James Branch Cabell Library. It provides students, faculty, and alumni with free access to 3D printers, laser cutters, audiovisual equipment loans, and advanced multimedia studios. The Workshop is one of Cabell’s most-used spaces. Resources available through the department include: 

• The Makerspace that features 3D printers, laser cutters/engravers, a 3D scanner, Cricut vinyl cutters, and embroidery machines;
• Audio and Video Studios, fully equipped spaces for capturing and editing digital media, including green screens, 4K cameras, and professional audio recording;
• XR/Advanced Media Lab, which provides access to VR headsets, gaming consoles, and an interactive Data Visualization Wall;
• Equipment for loan includes camcorders, DSLRs, audio recorders, and lighting kits.

While day-to-day operations for students is focused on creating and making, Creative Technologies has deep roots in supporting scholarship of the VCU community and community engagement through one-on-one consultations, workshops, orientations and instruction sessions as well as campuswide events. Among the community events within the department’s footprint are the annual VCU Global Game Jam, GIS Day events and the annual Creative Inquiries series–which often features an international artist creating through technologies.  

Dr. Keyes is well-qualified for this new role. He earned his doctorate in Education from VCU with a concentration in Art Education. He holds a Master of Arts in Media Arts and a Bachelor of Arts (Dual-Degree) in Media Arts and Film & Media Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Beginning in 2019, Keyes joined VCU Libraries as the Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian, responsible for the instructional aspects of the department. He has professional university teaching experience as an adjunct faculty at University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina- Wilmington, and at Virginia Commonwealth University over the span of the past 10 years in departments such as Art Education, Studio Arts and Kinetic Imaging. Since January 2026, Keyes has served as the interim Department Head, managing all aspects of the department. His promotion to department Head came through a national search. 

Dr. Keyes has a growing national reputation through significant publications, presentations and service. He has continual service in the Caucus of Social Theory in Art Education (CSTAE) and has served on the editorial review board of the Art Education Journal. He is the co-founder of the national organization Association of Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries (ACTAL), and has served on the board since 2025. His record of juried presentations and peer-reviewed publications is extensive. He has presented at the Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, National Art Education Association Convention, and ACTAL in recent years. In 2025, he was co-author of the book published by the American Library Association, A Complete Guide to Creative Technology Spaces in Academic Libraries: Media labs, makerspaces, and more, which is highly relevant to this position. Since 2022, he has published four peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals with an additional article forthcoming.