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Taking an art class at Â鶹´«Ã½ introduced me to the value of critique, the importance of sharing art within your community, and the awareness that being an artist is a lifelong practice that constantly evolves. From that singular class, I was encouraged and inspired to apply to art school in Chicago, where I studied many different ways of creating. Since graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), I have settled into a career that does not directly relate to or make use of the arts. However, the experience and confidence I gained as an artist from Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond fuels my need to make cool stuff whenever I can. I’ve been learning ceramics through my city’s parks and rec classes for the past 1.5 years and I love it! My decade-long drawing practice also continues to endure and grow as I do. Whatever the medium is, being an artist is my favorite identity and creating work brings joy to my life.

After Â鶹´«Ã½, I didn’t just carry my skills with me, I put them to work. My DTC major gives me a technical edge, and my Fine Arts minor keeps my creativity flowing, working together in everything I do. As a real estate marketing coordinator, I blend strategy with imagination, balancing deadlines and details while designing things like flyers and e-cards for listings. Of course, my artistic drive follows me outside the office. I have learned enough new forms of art to confidently say that I am a multimedia artist. Creating isn’t something I just schedule, it’s how I move through the world. My advice? Stay diligent, work hard, and protect your originality, because it’s what keeps the spark alive!

I am currently an admissions counselor for Â鶹´«Ã½, but I spend most of my free time painting miniatures for tabletop games with friends. After my B.A., I earned a Master in Teaching with Elementary Certification in 2020. I taught middle school art classes for 2 years using the skills I learned in the art program. Art classes encouraged me to think critically and creatively, and to see with empathy. Every little diorama or toy soldier I paint has its story. I like to use recycled materials, found objects, and things foraged from nature in my projects to build upon that connection to the outside world. Even when I’m just painting in my studio closet, I feel connected to the world through what I make.

For the past 2.5 years I’ve worked as a Senior Environmental Outreach Specialist with Clark County Public Works. My work is highly creative, as I’m frequently making digital content for recycling or composting campaigns, writing press releases, and crafting programs to support environmental policies and regional goals related to waste reduction. Covering stories on art and environmental issues for the VanCougar Student Newsmagazine taught me journalism and sharpened my writing and editing skills. As Editor-in-Chief for the Salmon Creek Journal, Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s art and literary publication, I developed design expertise and an eye for detail. I use these skills to run digital sustainability campaigns and create effective and appealing presentations. My love for both creativity and waste reduction can be seen in my hobby of drying flowers both gifted to me and grown in my garden. Our home is filled to the brim with carefully arranged dried bouquets, herbs, and pressed flowers I can’t bear to let wilt.

After graduating from Â鶹´«Ã½, I pursued a career in Human Resources and currently work as part of the HR team at ilani Resort. While I haven’t been creating art as often as I would like, the creative thinking developed through art continues to shape how I approach my work. In my Human Capital Management role, attention to detail is essential as I manage employee data and systems, and I regularly rely on problem-solving and careful observation, skills strengthened through studying art. I also maintain a large Artwall in the ilani employee area, which showcases employee artwork or highlights monthly information for our teams. It’s a small way to keep art present in the workplace and celebrate the creativity within our community. On a personal level, I continue to pursue photography, often with my cell phone rather than with a camera, but I deeply enjoy both approaches.

Creative people have grit and boldness, something I learned in my art classes at Â鶹´«Ã½, where I watched my classmates push boundaries and take risks. That environment encouraged me to do the same and showed me the importance of engaging with creative communities. Fellow artists offer support, advice, encouragement, and opportunities that help shape creative direction and career paths. After graduating, I intentionally explored a range of creative work to better understand my strengths and interests. Through trial and error — and occasional success — I was recently invited to sell my work full-time at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, the largest in the United States.