College of Arts and Sciences

In 2006, after graduating from South Vermillion High School in nearby Clinton, Indiana I began my secondary education at Indiana State University. As a freshman and sophomore my focus was on Graphic Design. I loved the art component of this degree program, but I was discovering how much I loved my part-time job as an assistant children’s librarian at the Clinton Public Library. This caused me to change my degree to Art Education, so I could continue working with children once I graduated. Upon graduation in 2010, I married my college boyfriend and we moved to Portland Oregon so he could pursue a Masters of Fine Art at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. While in the Northwest I worked a several elementary schools, taught art at the Portland Children’s Museum, and worked as a private nanny. My degree from ISU provided me with valuable hands-on experience so my first time in the classroom independently was exciting, rather than overwhelming.

Though we loved life in Oregon, we moved back to Terre Haute Indiana in the summer of 2014 when I was fortunate enough to receive a position as an Assistant Youth Services Librarian at the Vigo County Public Library. It was wonderful to reconnect with Vigo County after being gone for several years and put the skills that I learned in my undergraduate degree to good use. I focused on providing hands-on art experiences at every program that I did while in my position. I was pleased to move into the position of Youth Services manager in 2015. My education degree made this a great fit for me, because I saw management through the lens of a teacher. I loved helping my team develop new skills and helping us to work together to achieve our department goals.

My favorite component of my position as Youth Services Manager was distinctly programming and connecting with local organizations, businesses, and individuals to enrich our programming. In the fall of 2016, a new position was created at the Vigo County Public Library and I became our first Program and Event Manager where I do just that as a full-time position. Now the entire library is my team and I work to highlight individual’s strengths to build our programming for the entirety of Vigo County.

The organizational skills I learned under Dr. Venable in my Art Education courses have made this position possible for me. I host at least six programs a month- some with as many of 1,000 attendees, so organization and open-communication with staff is key. My art courses have made me the lead designer for a variety of projects throughout the year including our Christmas in the Park shelter, Tablescapes design and Indiana State Homecoming float entry.

I am so thankful for the education I received at Indiana State University and the skills that I acquired during my undergraduate degree. I am currently enrolled at IUPUI and I am working toward my Masters of Library Science degree that I plan to receive in 2020.