Kerry Gonzáles
Associate Professor / Graphic Design Specialization Rep
Visual Art & Design
School of Arts, Communication and Media
What
she teaches:
Beginning Type & Layout; Advanced Type & Layout;
Advanced Design; Package Design; Advertising Workshop; Advanced Independent
Studies; Exploring Art.
Number
of years teaching at SLCC:
20.
Undergraduate:
University of Utah.
Why
working at SLCC matters:
The diversity of SLCC has a positive influence on helping
our students learn compassion for others and responsibility for themselves.
With open enrollment, more students have access to higher education and job
training.
Greatest
professional challenge:
Our Graphic Design students need to be ready for the
workforce upon graduation. Because SLCC is a two-year college, our students are
not only in competition with students from four-year institutions, but also
with graphic designers already working in the field. As a result, the Graphic
Design program is designed to be very comprehensive. We work very hard to cover
as much as possible to help our students succeed. Time is always the challenge.
However, our successful alumni are proof of a successful program!
Greatest
professional accomplishment:
Maintaining a strong ongoing connection with alumni! The
ability to work with students from beginning through advanced capstone classes
and then onto graduation and beyond, has been so rewarding. I maintain contact
with over 200+ alumni and regularly invite them to be guest speakers/reviewers
in my classes. When current students work directly with alumni, they can see
that a career is possible. The INK website as well as the INK Shows I promote
each fall showcase this alumni connection. Visit the site at inkslcc.wordpress.com
Advice
for students or others:
Raising the bar is a good thing. If projects or assignments
are always easy, what's the point of taking a college class? A good project
challenges students to think critically. To succeed, students need to be
passionate, problem-solvers, self-starters, persistent and reliable. They need
to demonstrate responsibility and be able to handle consequences. However, the
most important, or at least in the top 10 of the attributes list, is the
ability to maintain a good attitude. I’ve seen so many talented people fail or
not progress because of their bad attitude. Conversely, I’ve seen many with
average beginning skills, become very successful primarily because of a positive
attitude and a willingness to keep trying and learning.
Future
plans:
To improve the graphic design program as much as I can by
continuing to look for educational opportunities and incorporating them in my
classes. I look forward to working with the Graphic Design Faculty to actively
promote and recruit potential students.
Family:
The motto in our family is, “It is good to be different.” I
am married to Alex, to a wonderful Renaissance man who is the most talented and
interesting person I know. Alex works in the commercial printing industry. I am
so very proud of my wonderful son, Kevin, who graduated from Westminster
College in Marketing. He has worked as a Senior SEO Strategist in the Retail
industry for several years. Our family also includes two Sheltie dogs and two
Calico Tabby cats. Of course!
Hobbies:
Reading, reading and
reading! A little gardening and roaming unsupervised through antique stores. I
support various nonprofit organizations and I stand for human rights, equality,
the environment, animal rights, education, the arts, common sense, compassion
and responsibility, among others.
