This website is an ever-evolving
space to hold research for projects,
examples of assignments and a place to comment
and add to the ever-changing environment
we face in graphic design.
A passion for design and a desire to ignite excitement in creatives
through inspiration, research and exploration.
Why I'm excited to be here!
My professional career began 20+ years ago starting at small design firms and eventually moving to Tracy-Locke, the largest agency in Dallas.
I’ve also worked in-house as Assistant Marketing Manager of a manufacturing firm winning local and national awards.
About 10 years ago I was asked to perform final critiques at my alma mater, and later requested to assist when classes were too large to manage.
I enjoyed it so much that I enrolled in the MFA program at Texas A&M-Commerce with an emphasis in Communication Design in 2007.
My teaching career began in summer of 2010 before the completion of my MFA; starting as an adjunct instructor at the Art Institute of Houston-North. My introductory classes were Foundation Design and Typography but given my industry experience, I moved to senior and Portfolio classes. After six months as a teaching instructor, I was promoted to Program Coordinator and managed 120 students and eight adjuncts for the Advertising, Graphic, and Web Design programs while teaching three senior-level classes. The challenges of being a new academic director include managing persistence (student success), creating class schedules and registration advising. I also managed our SACS accreditation and involved the adjunct instructors so all in my program were involved in consistency between classes. Being responsible for my own program was challenging and yet seeing my graduates walk the stage was a reward without words.
Moving back to Dallas has been exciting as I reconnect with with the city and the Art Institute in Dallas. My successes with the intermediate classes I teach allow me to see their progress through to the final Portfolio classes I also teach.
I stay connected to the professional world through my volunteer work with the National Student Show and the Dallas Society of Visual Commuications, the largest professional group of designers and art directors in the southwest. I try to engage my students in these programs to help them better understand the professional world through interaction with these professional organizations.
My teaching career began in summer of 2010 before the completion of my MFA; starting as an adjunct instructor at the Art Institute of Houston-North. My introductory classes were Foundation Design and Typography but given my industry experience, I moved to senior and Portfolio classes. After six months as a teaching instructor, I was promoted to Program Coordinator and managed 120 students and eight adjuncts for the Advertising, Graphic, and Web Design programs while teaching three senior-level classes. The challenges of being a new academic director include managing persistence (student success), creating class schedules and registration advising. I also managed our SACS accreditation and involved the adjunct instructors so all in my program were involved in consistency between classes. Being responsible for my own program was challenging and yet seeing my graduates walk the stage was a reward without words.
Moving back to Dallas has been exciting as I reconnect with with the city and the Art Institute in Dallas. My successes with the intermediate classes I teach allow me to see their progress through to the final Portfolio classes I also teach.
I stay connected to the professional world through my volunteer work with the National Student Show and the Dallas Society of Visual Commuications, the largest professional group of designers and art directors in the southwest. I try to engage my students in these programs to help them better understand the professional world through interaction with these professional organizations.