Experience Summary
I have been in the field of Graphic Arts as a freelancer since 2006. I attained my Associates degree (Graphic Arts) in 2007, completed the Bachelor’s degree (Graphic Arts) in 2011, and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2017.
During the last 20 years, I have had four children. They are ages 8 (girl), 11 (girl), 24 (boy), and 25 (girl). My oldest also has a three year old baby boy. I am now living in Boise with my youngest daughter, our cat Macy and a 5 ½ month old puppy that is training to be my service dog. I retired from the Air Force in 2009.
I love the different aspects of the design world and look forward to helping you explore them.
Teaching Style
Though I have only been teaching with the schools since 2011, I have been teaching on-and-off since 1985. I am a certified Martial Arts instructor and have taken my teaching methods from this, my military time, and even my life experiences. I believe that whatever we are learning that the classroom environment needs to stay fun and flowing smoothly.
I believe that hands-on is better than reading the steps in a book and following just them. With doing that, the student learns only what is there and ends up stuck in a box. As designers, it is our job to think outside the box. So in this, we need to be taught this as well.
It is also my goal as an instructor to push the students to look for their full potential and not get stuck as mediocre designers. I can see how they each have the possibility to expand and that is how I focus my feedback to them. By giving them a couple chances to complete a task, repetition tends to help them spread their wings.
My Hobbies
For hobbies, I love to do photography shoots and I am a local Fire Performer here in Boise, ID. I am also the Commander for VFW Post 1173.