Pioneer Alum Success Story
Cole Wiley, a 2008 graduate of The John Cooper School, is on a mission to reshape the future of technology by fusing his passion for art and technology. As the founder and former CEO of a technology firm and now an artist and software engineer, Cole credits his success to the foundation of innovation and artistic expression he received at The John Cooper School.
From 1995, as a new kindergarten student at The John Cooper School through Middle and Upper School, Cole’s creativity and passion for arts and technology were ignited. He credits Cooper teachers Bob Mosier, Jayla Davis, Susan Boyd, and Larry Dodd for their encouragement and guidance. They helped ignite his passion for creativity which was further cultivated, particularly during his time in Cooper’s Art Barn.
“Middle School was where I began to specialize in sculpture,” Wiley recalls. “I loved working with wood, table saws, and welding. Bob Mosier built this incredible welding deck that we were free to use. It’s still a core memory for me.”
During the summer of 2006, Wiley’s father approached Mosier about offering a summer welding camp at Cooper: “My dad didn’t want to send me across the country to learn welding, so he asked Bob, and Bob said, ’Sure, let’s make it happen.’ It was incredible—we spent two weeks cutting, grinding, and welding. Those were defining moments for me.” That summer, his passion for combining technical innovation with creative expression resulted in the sculpture he designed that now stands at the entrance to Cooper’s Upper School building. “It solidified for me that art was going to be a core part of my life going forward,” Cole recalled.
ADDING TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE TO THE MIX
Cole’s intellectual curiosity extended beyond the Art Barn. While in Upper School, he co-founded the School’s computer science club with classmate Tony Valderrama ’07. The club hosted computer LAN (Local Area Network) parties and gaming nights, and participated in competitions informed by their shared interest in technology. More importantly, the club provided Cole, an aspiring entrepreneur and software engineer, with a dynamic space to ignite curiosity, foster exploration, and cultivate the journey from curiosity to wisdom.
DESIGNING IMPACTFUL TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR WORLD
Upon graduating from Cooper in 2008, Cole continued his studies at Louisiana State University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Sculpture, Computer Science, and Digital Arts. He remained in Louisiana, where he joined the New Orleans startup scene and worked on interactive art installations using computer vision technology. Wiley’s early work, including the installation Riverless Walk, blended physical sculpture with digital technology, allowing viewers to influence a virtual environment through movement. This innovative spirit led to his founding of Scandy in 2014, a company that designed 3D scanning applications and where Cole was driven to make the technology more widely accessible.
As Scandy expanded its business, Cole’s influence in the technology field grew. In 2018, Scandy launched its volumetric video technology which allowed for a full 360-degree representation of a subject. By 2020 they released a new extended reality functionality. Scandy’s products could now allow consumers to experience products before purchasing, which has transformed the online shopping experience. innovator Inside his studio in the heart of downtown New Orleans, Cole Wiley ’08, traces the shape of a machine he crafted himself—a sleek, almost-human design that holds a paintbrush like an extension of the artist’s own hand. Wiley has always been driven by a desire to explore abstract possibilities within both digital and physical spaces.
MERGING ABSTRACT ART & COMPUTER SCIENCE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wiley realized that the demands of serving as CEO and running the business minimized his ability to write code and create. “I was frustrated when my interactive art was reduced to its technology. It made me ask: how can I create art where the technology fades into the background?”
In 2022, Wiley decided to leave Scandy and return to the roots of his creativity in the studio with renewed passion. He enrolled at Tulane University to pursue his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Arts. Wiley recalls, “Being CEO taught me about scaling and leading teams, but stepping back into an MFA let me reconnect with what made me want to create in the first place.” After earning his MFA, Cole returned to his roots, blending art with technology.
Now at Rios Intelligent Machines as a Senior Software Engineer, Cole is working to transform labor-intensive factories into smart factories of the future through robotics and AI. This work is familiar to him; his senior thesis at Tulane was the design of an innovative AI-powered painting and drawing robot that highlighted his ability to merge creativity with advanced engineering. Currently, Cole’s work focuses on developing robotics solutions tailored for the lumber industry, driving automation and efficiency through state-of-the-art technologies.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Cole will continue to break new ground at the intersection of art and technology and encourage others to embrace connections between unlikely fields. His message to current students:
“Find a way to connect the seemingly unrelated and abstract aspects of your life. You will be amazed at the results.”
Through public speaking engagements, such as his TEDxLSU on “The Creative Interface: Connecting Art and Computer Science”, he shares how early exposure to arts and technology at Cooper can lead to transformative careers.
“For me, the foundation of all learning begins with critical thinking— whether in history, math, or the arts. The ability to read critically, write effectively, and demonstrate is what truly empowers you. It’s not about memorizing facts; it’s about understanding, communicating, and creating connections. This is what I learned at Cooper and it’s what drives me—whether I’m solving a problem, welding, or building a business. It’s the journey from curiosity to wisdom, where exploration meets purpose and where a liberal arts education lays the foundation for all future learning,” said Wiley. He also reflected on how Cooper prepared him for life after school: “I think Cooper does a good job of helping students move between different spaces to reset and develop a well-rounded view.”
Read more here: 2024 IGNITE - The John Cooper School
Back
From 1995, as a new kindergarten student at The John Cooper School through Middle and Upper School, Cole’s creativity and passion for arts and technology were ignited. He credits Cooper teachers Bob Mosier, Jayla Davis, Susan Boyd, and Larry Dodd for their encouragement and guidance. They helped ignite his passion for creativity which was further cultivated, particularly during his time in Cooper’s Art Barn.
“Middle School was where I began to specialize in sculpture,” Wiley recalls. “I loved working with wood, table saws, and welding. Bob Mosier built this incredible welding deck that we were free to use. It’s still a core memory for me.”
During the summer of 2006, Wiley’s father approached Mosier about offering a summer welding camp at Cooper: “My dad didn’t want to send me across the country to learn welding, so he asked Bob, and Bob said, ’Sure, let’s make it happen.’ It was incredible—we spent two weeks cutting, grinding, and welding. Those were defining moments for me.” That summer, his passion for combining technical innovation with creative expression resulted in the sculpture he designed that now stands at the entrance to Cooper’s Upper School building. “It solidified for me that art was going to be a core part of my life going forward,” Cole recalled.
ADDING TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE TO THE MIX
Cole’s intellectual curiosity extended beyond the Art Barn. While in Upper School, he co-founded the School’s computer science club with classmate Tony Valderrama ’07. The club hosted computer LAN (Local Area Network) parties and gaming nights, and participated in competitions informed by their shared interest in technology. More importantly, the club provided Cole, an aspiring entrepreneur and software engineer, with a dynamic space to ignite curiosity, foster exploration, and cultivate the journey from curiosity to wisdom.
DESIGNING IMPACTFUL TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR WORLD
Upon graduating from Cooper in 2008, Cole continued his studies at Louisiana State University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Sculpture, Computer Science, and Digital Arts. He remained in Louisiana, where he joined the New Orleans startup scene and worked on interactive art installations using computer vision technology. Wiley’s early work, including the installation Riverless Walk, blended physical sculpture with digital technology, allowing viewers to influence a virtual environment through movement. This innovative spirit led to his founding of Scandy in 2014, a company that designed 3D scanning applications and where Cole was driven to make the technology more widely accessible.
As Scandy expanded its business, Cole’s influence in the technology field grew. In 2018, Scandy launched its volumetric video technology which allowed for a full 360-degree representation of a subject. By 2020 they released a new extended reality functionality. Scandy’s products could now allow consumers to experience products before purchasing, which has transformed the online shopping experience. innovator Inside his studio in the heart of downtown New Orleans, Cole Wiley ’08, traces the shape of a machine he crafted himself—a sleek, almost-human design that holds a paintbrush like an extension of the artist’s own hand. Wiley has always been driven by a desire to explore abstract possibilities within both digital and physical spaces.
MERGING ABSTRACT ART & COMPUTER SCIENCE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wiley realized that the demands of serving as CEO and running the business minimized his ability to write code and create. “I was frustrated when my interactive art was reduced to its technology. It made me ask: how can I create art where the technology fades into the background?”
In 2022, Wiley decided to leave Scandy and return to the roots of his creativity in the studio with renewed passion. He enrolled at Tulane University to pursue his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Arts. Wiley recalls, “Being CEO taught me about scaling and leading teams, but stepping back into an MFA let me reconnect with what made me want to create in the first place.” After earning his MFA, Cole returned to his roots, blending art with technology.
Now at Rios Intelligent Machines as a Senior Software Engineer, Cole is working to transform labor-intensive factories into smart factories of the future through robotics and AI. This work is familiar to him; his senior thesis at Tulane was the design of an innovative AI-powered painting and drawing robot that highlighted his ability to merge creativity with advanced engineering. Currently, Cole’s work focuses on developing robotics solutions tailored for the lumber industry, driving automation and efficiency through state-of-the-art technologies.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Cole will continue to break new ground at the intersection of art and technology and encourage others to embrace connections between unlikely fields. His message to current students:
“Find a way to connect the seemingly unrelated and abstract aspects of your life. You will be amazed at the results.”
Through public speaking engagements, such as his TEDxLSU on “The Creative Interface: Connecting Art and Computer Science”, he shares how early exposure to arts and technology at Cooper can lead to transformative careers.
“For me, the foundation of all learning begins with critical thinking— whether in history, math, or the arts. The ability to read critically, write effectively, and demonstrate is what truly empowers you. It’s not about memorizing facts; it’s about understanding, communicating, and creating connections. This is what I learned at Cooper and it’s what drives me—whether I’m solving a problem, welding, or building a business. It’s the journey from curiosity to wisdom, where exploration meets purpose and where a liberal arts education lays the foundation for all future learning,” said Wiley. He also reflected on how Cooper prepared him for life after school: “I think Cooper does a good job of helping students move between different spaces to reset and develop a well-rounded view.”
Read more here: 2024 IGNITE - The John Cooper School
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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