A senior graphic designer and art director with 17+ years’ experience driving creative projects at Western Michigan University. Expertise in comprehensive brand development, multi-platform design campaigns and participation in cross-functional teams to deliver high quality promotional materials for higher education and enterprise clients. Specializing in creating engaging visual communications into compelling visual narratives.

Senior graphic designer, art director, Western Michigan University (WMU), Kalamazoo, MI—November 2015-August 2025

Lead and execute all stages of creative from concept to completion and develop, implement, and deliver. Effective and contemporary design solutions for a public research university with 16K+ students, 860+ academic staff, and eight degree-granting colleges. Work directly with clients and senior management.

• Award of Excellence, for the WMU Brand Book, 46th Annual UCDA Design Competition.

• Concurrently manage multiple projects from start to finish.

• Demonstrate/apply strong and confident interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

• Partner with Marketing and Strategic Communications Vice President, outside consultants, and in-house web, communication teams to update University websites, boost page SEO, and improve user experience.

• Lead all aspects of art direction and design and produce full range of emerging/traditional media communications materials—print, web, video—compliant with WMU brand standards.

• Create original/unique products, including videos from storyboards, updates to existing videos. 

Play a key role in designing, building and leading creative projects for WMU. Implement an approved creative brief into powerful print and digital materials that tell great stories resonating with diverse audiences at WMU. Stay true to the brand and visual identity.

• Think Big and Rethink Smart, 2018-2020: partnered with senior leadership to co-lead the design and execution of strategic communications and marketing campaigns. Increased internal student and staff engagement with the University, drove redesign/rebrand of WMU website and logo, improved student recruitment and admissions protocols and surpassed expectations.

• Ongoing collaboration with the web and communication team to transition Western’s website to Drupal 10—as the design expert.

Manage and coordinate vendor design production. Write specifications to obtain bids, prepare design mock-ups, storyboards, verify proofs, and attend press checks. Plan and art direct photoshoots for a variety of design projects and photography asset collection. Support and consult WMU colleges and departments and provide art assets that meet visual identity guidelines. Maintain project tracking, quoting, invoicing, documenting project specifications and other data.

Senior marketing specialist, WMU, Kalamazoo, MI—July 2011 to November 2015

Coordinated production of publications and promotional material. Engaged with and oversaw designers, writers, and photographers. Developed and maintained marketing communication plans and calendars. Explored concepts and ideas for promotional materials and designed marketing projects. Wrote and proofread copy, including promotional material, press releases, web, and social media content. Ensured compliance with institutional communication, branding/identity, and marketing standards. Maintained integrity of the WMU brand. Translated message points into clear communications and met objectives. Developed plans and oversaw execution of special events. Contributed to department/college specific marketing or communications initiatives and programs. Adhered to project budget(s). Supervised part-time staffers.

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills, collaborative work style, and ability to recommend, design and implement new or existing initiatives: promoted Student Affairs mission and goals, designed/produced a wide range of communication materials using traditional and emerging technology. Managed print, web, and multimedia projects.

• Worked in web-based applications and helped transition Student Affairs websites to Drupal.

• Completed one-year WMU Leadership course.

• Completed a U.S. funded 3-year program to improve first generation student college experience.s.

Coordinated production of publications and promotional material. Engaged with and oversaw designers, writers, and photographers. Developed and maintained marketing communication plans and calendars. Explored concepts and ideas for promotional materials and designed marketing projects. Wrote and proofed copy, including promotional material, press releases, web, and social media content. Ensured compliance with institutional communication, branding/identity, and marketing standards. Maintained integrity of the WMU brand. Translated message points into clear communications and met objectives. Developed plans and oversaw execution of special events. Contributed to department-/college-specific marketing or communications initiatives or programs. Approved advertising within budget. Supervised part-time staffers.

 Instructional design/multimedia support specialist, WMU, Kalamazoo, MI—April 2008- to July 2011

Online Education team member: jointly supported instructional/multimedia design in close collaboration with WMU faculty. Designed, developed, built, and supported 100+ online courses each semester that met faculty and student goals and needs. Supported faculty development workshops teaching web-based course content delivery system. 

• Developed effective instructional materials for online courses from start to finish. Used instructional design methodology best practices to analyze, evaluate, design, and develop functional specifications.

• Applied design standards to create educational solutions that met client needs.

• Created/maintained content in the learning management system (Blackboard Vista and the new Desire2Learn) that supported learning: content editing, graphic design, web development.

• Demonstrated expertise in Adobe CC, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, Premiere Pro, web conferencing, social media, Microsoft Office, voice/video editing applications.

Early career:

• Adjunct Instructor, MKTG-4740-105— Creative Strategy, WMU

• Adjunct Instructor, Advertising and Design, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and St. Clair County Community College

• Freelance Designer, greater Kalamazoo area

• Designer/photographer, South County Communications

• Designer, LKF Marketing

Education and professional development

• Master of Arts, Educational Technology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Printmaking and Painting, Adrian College, Adrian, MI

Memberships:

• Arts Council of Kalamazoo

• International Society for Technology in Education

• Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning

• University & College Designers Association

• Academic Leadership Academy

• Professional Learning Community

• Broncos First