Community has always played a central role in my creative practice, and I believe meaningful design education is built through access, encouragement, and honest conversation. Since graduating, I have remained actively involved in student mentorship and university-level portfolio reviews each year, working with emerging designers as they navigate the transition from the classroom into professional practice.

A cornerstone of this involvement has been teaching a course on Professional Practices at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga — my alma mater. The course was designed to bridge the gap between academic training and the realities of the design industry, offering students practical tools alongside candid discussions about creative careers. Topics ranged from portfolio development, client communication, and collaboration to navigating feedback, contracts, and personal values within professional work.

Rather than positioning design as a linear path, the course emphasized adaptability, reflection, and intention. Students were encouraged to think critically about how they work, who they want to work with, and how their creative skills can serve both personal and collective goals. Through project-based learning, peer critique, and real-world scenarios, the class created space for students to build confidence while developing a clearer sense of their own creative voice.

Continuing to mentor and teach allows me to stay connected to the next generation of designers while reinforcing the importance of clarity, empathy, and purpose in creative leadership. These experiences inform my own practice and serve as a reminder that design thrives most when knowledge is shared and community is nurtured.