Alumni Success

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

I think first and foremost there are friends & mentors I made at SCC that I am still connected with to this day. It obviously had a personal impact but was also great professionally, from bouncing off ideas of job opportunities, career challenges, and feedback on my work over the course of the years. It's also been amazing to see where people have gone with their careers over the last 10-15 even just through LinkedIn and knowing I can always connect with them if I am ever in need.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I'd heard it was the best design program in the state, even over ASU.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

Being a part of the fairly early days of the program at SCC and then seeing where the industry went, it became a passion of mine to help students from a mentoring program as well as showing design as a career and its potential impact. While I was in Kansas City, I guest taught high school and college classes, participated in mentorship programs, mentored portfolio reviews, judged portfolios, and founded a non-profit geared towards inspiring, connecting, and educating design professionals with a tangential focus on students.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I'm currently Head of Design at a startup in Sydney, Australia. While my career is predominantly focused on digital products, I also work with our marketing team for design needs which taps back into all the education and knowledge I got at SCC from Peggy Deal's classes. To this day, I still have to remember about bleed, leading, kerning, orphans, etc. There are so many fundamentals I learned from design principles around white space, balance, hierarchy, etc. that are absolutely pertinent to today's design work that I do.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

No, I moved from AZ in 2011 and currently live in Sydney, Australia.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Particularly for the design program - it's by far one of the best programs you can be a part of over any uni or online school. Whatever you're interested in, it will give you the foundation you need for any design direction you want to go.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

My studies there taught me to prepare well, work hard, and strive for perfection.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Intimate learning environment with highly qualified, talented professors.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

SCC provided the perfect transition for me from a small rural Midwest high school to college. Bob Mugford turned me into a decent writer. Pamela Fields fueled my interest in theater.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The flora and fauna of Arizona field trips with Dennis Massion's class.

Please describe your involvement at SCC, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors, and athletic teams.

I was an assistant to Al Fischer in the SCC Public Relations office. He taught me a lot about the news business and public relations, which figured into several future positions.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

Associate's Degree. Focused mostly on English and Performing Arts.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start, and where are you now?

I went on to Arizona State University and earned a BA in English. Upon graduation, I worked as a Research Analyst for the Arizona House of Representatives. I performed in many professional theater productions in the Valley. I later graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a focus on playwriting. I later received a Fulbright fellowship to Croatia. I've worked as a reporter for several publications. My play 'The Ontological Detective' was produced off-Broadway, and 'Mustard Seed' won the Southern Playwrights Competition. As an actor, I have appeared in the Academy Award-nominated short, 'The Letter Room,' and on Hulu’s 'Chance.'

My post-apocalyptic sci-fi podcast, 'BlueLife' which was an Austin Film Festival script award winner, premieres its first three episodes on Sept. 1st. Go to https://www.bluelifeworld.com/ for details.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Challenge yourself. Learn from people who have 'been there.' Work hard and don't forget to have fun. SCC provides an ideal environment for learning and building community in an affordable, low-stress environment. It made me fall in love with learning.

What specifically prompted you to attend SCC? What made SCC the right fit for you?

I originally planned to come to SCC to study film. Since I had two young kids, I pivoted to Graphic Design as I was able to take a combination of online and on-campus classes, which was a better option for me and my family.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

I completed an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (Visual Communication) in 2025. I also completed Certificates in the three Visual Communication tracks: Digital Process Management, Graphic Design, and Creative Branding.

Please describe your involvement at SCC, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors, and athletic teams.

While at SCC, I was a member of the Honors Program and graduated with honors and distinction. For my Honors Project, I created a print piece to seek employment with the International Printing Museum (IPM). I also built a website as part of this project. I entered the finished project in a contest hosted by the IPM and won. I entered my work in numerous contests throughout my time at SCC. In the spring of 2023, I entered a sticker contest for SCC Library stickers and won 1st and 3rd place. I won various awards by entering my work into the Print Industry Association’s (PIA) student competition in the Spring of 2025. I was awarded Outstanding Leadership in 2024 at the SCC Excellence Under the Stars ceremony.

Describe one of the most memorable aspects of your student experience at SCC?

My most memorable experience was a Print field trip last year to California. A small group of seven students and three instructors visited three large print facilities (one for Disneyland, one for artists, and the third for labeling medications), and we also visited the International Printing Museum (IPM) and got a private tour of the museum. The IPM has one of the largest collections of antique printing presses in the United States. In addition to expanding my knowledge of the print industry, I further developed my leadership skills as I was the student leader for our group during this field trip.

Who were the most influential instructors or staff members you encountered at SCC, and why?

Peggy Deal introduced me to print, and Jennie Kale Long voluntold me about any opportunities in graphic design and print.

List any Scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC. If you were a scholarship recipient, please share the role the scholarship played in your educational journey.

I received the RAISE Foundation Scholarship awarded to students studying printing management. I also received the Elizabeth Alexander Scholarship. I also received a few other merit-based scholarships within our program. Receiving these scholarships allowed me to take some of the financial burden off our one-income household, enabling me to take all the courses SCC had available in the Visual Communication program.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start, and where are you now?

After completing my Associate's degree in Visual Communication, I have begun to work toward my bachelor’s degree, as this will help me advance in my profession. I will complete a bachelor's degree in Strategic Leadership with an emphasis on Industrial Management through the 90/30 program at Northern Arizona University (NAU). I am currently employed as a Print Operator. Kathy, the rep for PIA, passed my information on to Doxim, and that is how I secured my post-school employment.

Tell us the ways that SCC prepared you for additional education and/or your career.

The Visual Communications program at SCC provided me with hands-on experiences that I would encounter in the real world. The supportive and collaborative classroom environment provided me with opportunities to thrive. When I encountered challenging life situations, I benefited from the support and encouragement of my instructors. I was encouraged to expand my knowledge and reach beyond my comfort zone. I apply the knowledge that I gained at SCC every day at my job as a Print Operator.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

Get friendly with your teachers. This opened up more opportunities to work and collaborate. Developing relationships with your teachers and fellow students enables you to establish a supportive and collaborative network.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I attended with my daughter, and we took several classes together. I found my sense of purpose and self-worth. I found my confidence. My daughter and I graduated and walked together in the commencement ceremony.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

As a (late) returning student, I easily found my place in classes, clubs, and groups.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My peers elected me to lead as the President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

It prepared me for my Bachelor's and provided opportunities to give back to the community and fall in love with people of all backgrounds, cultures, orientations, and ages. It taught me to see things from so many different perspectives. I also made several lifelong friends who were also my teachers during my time at SCC.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

President of the Year, Phi Theta Kappa, completed the Women Rising 4 pillars pins, was the liaison for the campus blood drive for 3 semesters, helped with Human Trafficking Awareness week/month on campus, and I received my pins. Each semester, I achieved the highest honors and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

I received my Associate's degree in the Social Sciences as I focused mainly on Psychology classes. I think I took everything they offered at the time in that field.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

I received too many academic scholarships to/name.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start, and where are you now?

My daughter and I went to GCU, and again, we graduated together with our Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Then, when she continued to pursue her Master's in Health Psychology, I got my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Trauma Emphasis. I interned with A New Leaf, helping those in my community. Now I am the Behavioral Health Lead at Recovia in Mesa, an inpatient and outpatient program (IOP) combining mental health, addiction help, physical therapy, and medical.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Enjoy the journey, and take a wide variety of classes that fit within your degree's requirements. I needed a language, so I took Spanish. I needed an elective, so I took Microeconomics to learn more about how the world works. Join clubs, apply for scholarships, and spend time getting to know your classmates and teachers. It's well worth it.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Born and raised in Scottsdale, SCC was in my backyard, so to speak. When I finished high school a semester early, my mother gave me two choices: 1) start college early or 2) get a job. I selected the first option and in the second semester of my high school senior year I dipped my toe into college and took an English class. This helped prepare me for the transition to college. Upon graduation from high school, I became a full-time SCC student.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

Since my brother was a member of the SCC baseball team, I was already attending the games so it was a “natural fit” to take on the role as statistician for the baseball team. This gave me a connection to the college outside of my classes. My first degree was Elementary and Special Education. While in the process of completing my coursework, I learned I had an interest in history. My history instructor, Marshall Trimble, had a knack for storytelling and his ability to captivate a classroom instilled in me a genuine interest in history.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

As for my personal life, I met my husband of 30 years. We started dating while both students at SCC and have two children. SCC is where the “magic happened.” I learned that I find history interesting and that education is a career that I would enjoy for many years.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

I was not always the best student in high school. My educational and extracurricular experience at SCC enabled me to see that I could be a successful college student and that I could do it on my own. I learned that I was tenacious and that I embodied the persistent determination to complete a college degree and become a successful educator. Just being willing to take that first step and enroll at SCC started my journey toward a 24 year teaching career in both Special Education and Government and Economics.

What words of encouragement do you have for those who follow in your footsteps?

It can be frightening to start college, yet you will find “the community” in a community college. Give college a try and do it at your own pace. High School is so scripted; at college you get to be in charge. SCC is very accessible, the cost is affordable, the class size is comfortable and the setting is convenient. Just be willing to take that first step.