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I founded, and continue to run, a photography business here in Delaware. This keeps me up-to-speed with not only the technology, software, and best practice therein but also social media marketing strategies, web design techniques, client relationship trends and technologies (CRM), and more. Being able to remain current and pass that experience on to students has been extremely beneficial in the classroom.
I have also freelanced as a web designer in order to keep my hands in the planning, structuring, and execution of a strong web presence for various local companies.
In January of 2016, I completed my Master's Degree at Wilmington University for Information Systems Technologies - Internet and Web Design. The research completed to achieve this degree resulted in a much deeper understanding of how the internet is consumed and how we, as web designers, can better design for effective User Experience. This knowledge base has had a terrific impact on how the curriculum for the Web Graphics courses are planned and assembled.
As our department teamed up to generate a successful degree sequence rewrite, we added certification exams for the students within many of the software-based graphics courses. As part of that preparation, I became certified in the software as well, and continue to upkeep my certifications each semester. I am, currently, the only faculty with all four certifications.
It's pretty common knowledge that salespeople ask questions that are difficult to answer in a way that doesn't lead the conversation to you agreeing with them. In my classes, during lab times, I found some students who clearly weren't 100% comfortable with the material would still shy away from help. When I asked how things were going, they could respond with "Fine". If I said "Anything I can help with?" it gave them the opportunity to say "No, all good, thanks." I recently upgraded my offer to "How can I help?" and noticed a large increase in responses accepting assistance and guidance since the natural response is not cut and dry. I apply subtle language shifts like this whenever possible to encourage meaningful conversations and increase student engagement.
From design software to cutting-edge technologies in UX to current best-practices, this conference is THE gathering grounds for creative professionals within the design field. I spent the week learning from hands-on training to adopt new tools, techniques, and product features that streamline student workflows. Thanks to attending these sessions, hands-on labs, and workshops taught by the best in our industry, I am able to bring employable knowledge and innovation to Delaware Tech students. I also attended in Fall 2022 and plan to continue staying current on the technologies through this wonderful conference.
I, since 2011, served as the Advisor for the VSC Club, facilitating the officers in organizing trips, fundraisers, contests, comradery events, and more until the club was sunsetted.
I have served on the committee for the Chocolate 5k on the Terry Campus. I have also run the race multiple years. One February we organized a handful of students to assist me in capturing photography and video of the event to provide Marketing with imagery in order to be used for promotional material in following years. I have also run the Sposato 5k benefiting the Agricultural Club on Owen's Campus.
I led the VSC Club in hosting events for Welcome Week for several years. I have also volunteered for the dunk tank on multiple occasions. I feel that these events are important for students to have a sense of belonging and community at their school and they work to foster relationships that help them stick to their goals.
I assisted in the design and assembly of the Gala before I was hired at Delaware Tech and have continued assisting for multiple years since. I also played a large role in designing and constructing the look and layout of Dancing with DaVinci, a fundraiser put on by a former Terry Campus Director.
Staying current is vital and our avdvisory board is a key aspect of how Visual Communications does so. I continually connect strong individuals from the community to our department and recruit active advisory board members as often as I can to continue gaining critical knowledge on how to keep our students competitive.
Making a connection early with highschool students has proven to be beneficial to enrollment as well as the students as they begin embarking on their college experience. I represent the Visual Comunications department by planning and executing an engaging activity to showcase our field to highschool students each year for the JDG, STEM, and similar events. The Visual Communications students light and photograph the attendees with props and place them in a magazine cover of their choice. Fun is had by all and they experience a great sense of our field's role in marketing with a fun digital keepsake. It has since been used many times and incorporated as an event at the Rock n' Roll-themed Employee Recognition event last year in 2023.
Students are constantly being graded and critiqued, yet can so rarely receive acclamations for their successes. The VSC department sought to change this and created the Adobe Certification Celebration. Each March, we purchase prizes, assemble gift bundles, organize reward tiers based on accolades, and run an advertising campaign to celebrate the students in their results of the Adobe Certification exams discussed above. These events are captured with high quality photos and a team-generated collection of visuals based on a concept by our chairperson, Patti Bishop. I help to organize results, find and develop products, assemble packages, award and celebrate the students, and also create photobooths with backdrops, lighting, and the celebratory feeling.
Advisement is always about the student and keeping them on track with THEIR goals. I remind them that I am their mentor for choosing their next degree, next school, purchasing technology or supplies, or what to do when the general education courses are becoming too daunting. I partner with the students to find the best path to their success.
I utilized Google Calendar from day one of hire for easy scheduling and tracking of schedule within department and with students.
While Google Calendar makes it easy for me to schedule and share events, it doesn't simplify the student's efforts in booking an office session with faculty. Determined to make it easier for students to access me as an advisor, I researched and found a third-party app called YouCanBookMe that eliminates the back-and-forth of scheduling a session with Faculty. Be it advisement or tutoring, the student can hit a simple button and then book a timeslot. Both the student and instructor are notified by email, as well as that timeslot being booked on the faculty member's Google Calendar. This has been adopted by other faculty since I showcased the solution at my New Faculty portfolio presentation and is making advisement easier for faculty and student alike! "Book Now" buttons like the one to the right are in place in each course for the students to reserve office sessions for tutoring, advisement, or any mentoring need. Please tap that button to get a sense of how easy it is to schedule with me or my department now!
Update: I now use Calendly as does most of the college, with the added convenience that, using a browser extension, a Zoom link is automatically generated in the calendar event and the student can choose their preference between remote advisement or in-person. Whatever helps them the most!
Every Spring, the highest quality of works from Visual Communications students would line the halls of the Science, Engineering, & Technology Building. Four hallways were filled on both sides with hundreds of the top-tier pieces including drawings, paintings, design pieces, photography, web design displays, graduate highlights, signage, and more. The week after graduation was labor-packed as our department designed, printed, and assembled these displays, campaigns, signage, and more. It was a fantastic display of visuals and our department's quality. In addition, it served to launch the graduates into the public eye and help them to network and to start becoming recognized.
After a never-before-seen semester in Spring of 2020, it was time for The VSC Student Showcase. How would our department show the community the entirety of the student work as we had each academic year's end for decades? We took to the web for a digital experience. Our department planned a massive overhaul of 800-900 pieces of work and I built an entire WordPress-based website to house the collection. This undertaking was arduous and needed quick turnaround while including pop-up style lightboxes for the many masonry-style galleries, as well as a flip-book themed experience to mimic the Graduate Portfolio Room in our face-to-face version. We have received rave reviews about the website and it replaced the physical showcase from that year on. The site has grown and now archives back three years to continue touting the student work. The website has increased employment rates and aids our department's efforts in connecting graduates to employers.
Each Spring, the VSC program would host, write, and execute the SkillsUSA design and photography competition for the state of Delaware. Our team would write the challenge, provide the assets, and schedule the events with volunteers, signage, briefs, and content. The high school students attending would then spend the morning competing in the provided activities, enjoy provided lunch, and experience a presentation about the further education the VSC department could provide before heading back to their school day. I contributed to event generation as well as organizing, designing, assembling, and hosting for the event.
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1.4 Demonstrates excellence in student advisement.
1.7 Integrates professional development as a means to strengthen the teaching and learning environment.
2. Participates in campus and college initiatives that support the mission, goal and philosophy of the College.