Never one to follow conventional expectations, I took the scenic route on my way to a career in design. With a background in marketing and public relations, and even a few semesters of pharmacy school under my belt (mm-hmm, you read that correctly—we all make a few questionable choices in our twenties, yes?), I suppose I’m nothing if not well-rounded. After finally capitalizing on my artistic abilities, I’ve spent more than 15 years as a professional designer, with the majority of my roles leading in-house creative initiatives.

I truly enjoy getting to know a brand at its core. That in-depth knowledge allows me to intelligently and creatively evolve visual identities in ways that feel fresh and engaging, while still respecting what people already know. While some might find this type of work limiting of their creativity, I like to think of it as a challenge: how do I maintain all the positive associations people might already have for this brand while also developing a new way to visually tell its story?

When I’m not professionally designing, I teach Branding + Identity in Graphic Design to second-year design students at Cape Fear Community College. I’m also a Pure Barre instructor, amateur potter, aspiring writer, and absolute dog lover. Working remote since 2020, I consider my Mini Schnauzer Sprocket to be my office’s head of security and lead quality control consultant, and my Newfiedoodle Ozzie, our chairperson for company well-being and morale. And yes, I see now that we’re all making the same face in our headshots.