My experience balances teaching graphic design and foundations courses alongside freelance design work.
My education has helped evolve my perspective through international experiences. I embraced opportunities to explore classroom environments, history and cultures as well as design principles and various techniques.
Education
M.A. Visual Communication
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA)
Accredited by Falmouth University
Graduate Class Representative
Final Exhibition Student Director
Cambridge, England
Sept 2022
B.F.A Graphic Design
Minor in Packaging Science
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Summa Cum Laude, Honors Program
RIT Irene Pfizenmaier Award for Academic Excellence in Graphic Expression
RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar
Rochester, NY
Sept 2022
RIT Study Abroad Semester
Danish Institute of Study Abroad (DIS)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Fall 2018
Rochester, NY
Teaching Experience
I have taught graphic design and foundations courses at various universities in Western New York as well as ceramics at Wheel & Slab Pottery studio. Teaching allows me to foster curiosity and exploration while guiding the creative process.
Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY
Syracuse, NY
Charlotte, NC
August 2026
University of North Carolina–Charlotte
Graphic Design Lecturer
Incoming lecturer within the College of Arts & Architecture to teach graphic design and foundations courses.
Wheel & Slab
Instructor and Club Night Facilitator
Teach various classes and workshops within the studio.
Assist members with questions and advice for wheel thrown and hand built ceramic projects during club nights as well as maintain organization and open/close the studio.
Aug. 2025–May 2026
Rochester Institute of Technology
Adjunct Professor
Teaching Graphic Design for Non-Majors in the School of Design for the Spring 2025 semester. Focusing on graphic design principles and introducing software through print and digital based projects.
Taught Foundations Drawing 1 in the College of Art and Design for the Fall 2025 semester. Facilitated and guided students on observational drawing techniques while building confidence to present and analyze work.
Nominated for the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching for Non-Tenure Track Faculty
Aug. 2025–May 2026
Visiting Lecturer
Taught a 3/4 class schedule.
Created an active learning environment that guided students, encouraged exploration, and reinforced professional design practices within the graphic design department.
Supported the department in discussions, event planning, promotions, advised 10 graphic design capstone students each semester and assisted with the organization of the graphic design capstone exhibitions in Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.
Aug. 2023–May 2025
Adjunct Professor
Taught a junior level brand systems course and graphic design capstone course (seniors). Assisted with organizing the graphic design capstone exhibition. This was our first exhibition in a small gallery space.
Jan. 2023–May 2023
Syracuse University
Part-time Instructor
Taught Introduction to Graphic Design course within the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Lectured and implemented projects that demonstrate basic graphic design principles through print materials, social media design and interactive web experiences.
Aug. 2025–Dec. 2025
University of Rochester
Guest Lecturer
Introduced a modular grid design poster template for the Digital Media Studies Capstone Course 373 within two class sessions. Students added content to the template and received feedback within a collaborative FigJam file.
March 2026
Guest Lecturer
Lectured and facilitated a project in Digital Media Studies 103 Course: Essential Digital Media Toolkit course that introduced students to graphic design and Adobe Illustrator within five 1 hour and 15 minute class sessions.
March 2024, March 2025, Oct 2025, and March 2026
Guest Lecturer
Provided coverage for two class sessions in Digital Media Studies 171: Graphic Design 1 while the instructor, Nancy Bernardo attended a residency. This included guiding the students to finish their Zine project by providing feedback, answering software questions and assisting with print production.
Dec. 2025
Rochester, NY
Shelton, CT
Remote
Professional Experience
April 2021–Present
Remote
Anna19 Design LLC
Owner and Designer
Managing my own independent design studio that focuses on brand and identity systems, package design, production artwork files, illustration, books and print and digital marketing materials for a variety of clients to bring their brand experience to life.
Bic
Contract Brand Designer
Led projects and art directed several package designs for stationery products. Supported the team of brand managers, packaging engineers and photographers to align direction and production. Created concept and final package designs, point of purchase displays, marketing materials, e-commerce visual assets and produced product catalogs that demonstrate brand values and connect with consumers. Researched trends and imagery for the target markets of various products.
Oct. 2019–Aug. 2021
Brand Design Intern
Assisted the stationery team with development of concept package designs. Researched imagery, trends and created physical and digital mock-ups. Integral in the ideation and development of the Bic Paint Marker packaging.
June 2019–Aug. 2019
Thrive Market
Junior Package Designer
Modified package designs by making edits from copy-editors or stakeholders, updated mechanicals for print production, created packaging renders, edited presentation decks and style guides for food, supplements and home products within the design team.
May 2021–July 2021
Mx. Media
Firehouse Gallery, Flower City Art Center
Group exhibition juried by Committee
Rochester, NY
Group Exhibitions
May 2021–July 2021
RIT Faculty Exhibition
College of Art & Design
Bevier and William Harris Galleries
Rochester, NY
Sept. 2023, Sept. 2024 and Sept. 2025
Petting Zoo | Members Exhibition
Wheel and Slab Pottery Club
Rochester, NY
May 2025
Something in the Window | Graduate School Exhibition
Espacio Gallery
London, England
Sept. 2022
Awards
RIT Adjunct Professional Development Grant for $500 | 2025-26
This grant will provide funds to travel to NYC to attend the Type Directors Conference: Type Drives Commerce (March 2026) and First Round Conference (May 2026), visit museums and network within the design community.
RIT Irene Pfizenmaier Award for Academic Excellence in Graphic Expression | 2020
RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar | 2020
Paperboard Packaging Association Student Design Challenge | Honorable Mention | 2020
Gold Addy | American Advertising Federation Greater Rochester | RIT Editorial Design Course Class Project: Ellipse Magazine | 2020
Publications
Contributor: The Creative Wellbeing Handbook | April 2026
Provided an additional perspective about creative wellbeing for The Creative Wellbeing Handbook by Emmi Salonen. Expected publication dates: in Europe November 2025 and internationally in April 2026
Swell Magazine Issue 2: Ripe | Winter 2025
Created a watercolor illustration for a poem within the magazine.
A Field Guide to Climate Change | 2024
Created two mixed media illustration pieces for the articles: Why Design Needs its Own Panel on Climate Change and Define the Default: Good Design is About Impact and Responsibility within the ebook: A Field Guide to Climate Change by editor and lead writer, Matt McGillvray
An Adventure in Iceland | Self-Published 2020
Mixed media book with illustrations, photography and prose from a 2020 trip to Iceland with the RIT honors program.
Juxtaposition | Self-Published 2020
Coffee table style book that compares my own photography from the Southwest and photography from different points of my life inspired by an RIT honors program trip to the Southwest in 2019
Involvement
Assistant Researcher for New Wave, a partner of Climate Designers | 2026–Present
Member of Studioworks | 2026–Present
Member of AIGA Upstate NY | 2025–Present
Member of Crucial Comix Community | 2025–Present
Member of Wheel & Slab Pottery Club | 2024–Present
Member of Climate Designers | 2024–Present
Volunteer Graphic Designer: Edgerton Model Railroad Club | 2023–Present
Member of Queer Design Club | 2020–Present