Major: Art
Hometown: Westerly, RI
Q. What makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI unique?
A. I think what makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI so unique is its expansive nature. The broad spectrum of majors offered makes it so students have the ability to choose from a variety of different paths. There is a program for everyone here who is interested in entering any of the arts, humanities, or social and natural science realms.
What accomplishments and/or activities at URI are you most proud of now?
I am very grateful to have made the Dean’s list every semester that I have attended URI. I am also proud of my GPA which currently is at a 3.90, the highest I have had thus far. College is a very challenging journey and at times it pushes you to your limits. However, nothing beats the feeling of ultimately overcoming and conquering the times where you thought you weren’t gonna be able to. Reaching the end of my time here, and being able to say that I achieved these two milestones, brings me a great sense of reward and gratitude.
What research projects, internships, experiential learning, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI?
Senior Seminar is a course where URI senior fine arts majors participate in an off campus gallery show, to display some of our work. I am currently enrolled in that course this semester, and our show will open at Hera Gallery in Wakefield, RI in early April. So far the experience has been really nice. I have enjoyed being able to collaborate with classmates on ideas that both collectively and individually display who we are as artists. This opportunity has given me the chance to work in a real-world environment pertaining to my field of study, which is an experience I will always value.
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
Everything about it. Without it, I don’t know if I would have experienced the same personal growth, on the level that I have for the past four years. My liberal arts education has taught me a great deal about who I am as a person, and what it is that I truly want for myself. When you enter college right after high school, it can be extremely difficult to envision yourself years down the road. My liberal arts education has, more than anything else, provided me an endless insight on what it is that I want, what it is that I don’t want, and where to go from here. As a whole it was a very valuable experience.
What have been some highlights of your time in the Art department?
In general, I am grateful to have had professors that have encouraged me to make Art that I enjoy but also have pushed my creative boundaries. In addition to senior seminar, I had a great experience last fall where my graphic design instructor, Dr. Clarisa Carubin, assigned each of us a local client who was in need of graphic design materials for their local businesses. Working with my clients and discovering how to lead meetings where I was the one “in charge” of creating a brand identity for them that showcased who they were as a brand, was an incredible highlight of mine in the Art department. I enjoyed designing a logo for them as well as other materials for their business, and it opened my eyes to the possibilities of making that a future career.
What’s next for you?
I would like to get my Masters of Fine Arts in the future, though I don’t know yet if that’ll come right away. One thing I do know is that I will be doing everything in my power to stay creative. My immediate goal is to pursue a career with my B.F.A where I can put my passions to use to help others do the same.