Jasmine Terrell – Elevating Black Voices in Design
Why were you interested in attending last year's conference?
I attended my first UCDA conference in New Mexico and left so creatively inspired. I knew that I would try my best to attend each year going forward.
How did attending empower you and your work?
Seeing many of the award recipients' work gave me ideas on how to refresh many of my designs. Also, the speakers were all so different. They helped me to rediscover my surroundings as creative inspiration and I made it my aim to seek inspiration beyond the computer screen.
What moment at the conference was particularly meaningful to you?
I loved the 20x20 presentations. Some presentations were about career journeys and some presentations were about big projects. They were all great! It reminded me of the importance of doing things your way and not conforming.
In what ways did the scholarship help amplify your voice in the design community?
My current job isn’t solely design anymore, but much of it is communication. This scholarship helped me attend a conference that I love and that gives me an environment of other creatives that just “get it”. They know what it’s like designing in higher education and they give you some creative solutions to some of the challenges.
What would you say to other designers interested in applying for the Elevating Black Voices scholarship?
Just apply! It is such a wonderful opportunity and your voice deserves to be heard within your teams.
Tiffani Bogda – Professional Development
What motivated you to apply for the Professional Development Scholarship?
Since joining Rider University’s marketing & communications team back in 2018, I’ve always kept a goal for myself to attend more conferences throughout the years. After going through a rebranding a couple of years back, and our team finding their perfect stride, I thought this would be the best year to try and apply for the Professional Development Scholarship.
How did receiving the scholarship impact your career and professional growth?
Being able to attend last year’s conference opened my eyes to inspiration from other institutions, while also making meaningful connections with individuals in the same career and print vendors that we hope to use in the future.
Can you share a specific experience or learning from the conference that you found particularly valuable?
I quickly learned that my team is not alone in some of the struggles we deal with daily. Being able to connect with other colleagues during the conference allowed me to voice issues we might have faced, listen to how they’ve combated these issues, and come up with plans on what we can do in the future.
How has the scholarship enabled you to contribute more effectively to your university or projects?
I was able to return to my team with some fresh examples and ideas on what we could be doing differently with our marketing materials. This included using more hand-drawn elements throughout, and how campus branding can truly impact the look and feel of an institution's campus.
What advice would you give to others considering applying for the Professional Development Scholarship?
My advice would be to just do it! When I initially applied, I didn’t even think that I was going to be chosen as a recipient. This opportunity allowed me to drive into the design world of institutions all over the states. And the connections I’ve made have been essential to my continued growth in the higher education field.