CoD hosts alums for “Successful Careers in Design” speaker series
Earlier this week the College of Design’s sections of UK 101 and UK 201 welcomed four alumni to share their professional journey with students in a lunch-and-learn-style speaker series titled “Successful Careers in Design”.
UK 101 and UK 201 courses are designed to be an introductory course for first year and transfer students, focused on skill building, finding community and career exploration. In college-specific sections of the course, instructors have the discretion to add content tailored to majors, career interests and student requests.
“This can be a very stressful time of the semester, especially for students who are preparing for their first ever final reviews,” said Azhar Swanson, the College’s assistant dean for student affairs and UK 101/201 instructor. “This series helps students to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that all of their hard work will pay off.”
The speaker series featured Afif Alahmad (ARC, 2018/M.Arch, 2020), Krisia Estes (INT, 2022), Peter Kirk (ARC, 2019) and Susana Verni (INT, 2013). Alahmad works as a project associate for the award-winning central Kentucky design firm EOP Architects, which is currently working on the state Capitol dome reconstruction. Estes chose a different path, choosing to purse a master’s degree before entering the professional world. While in undergrad, Estes became interested in the intersection of psychology and interior design and is now earning her Master of Science in Psychology of the Arts focusing on neuroaesthetics and creativity. Kirk works as a project manager for the Congleton-Hacker Company, which oversees major construction projects including several on UK’s campus such as the Scovell Hall renovation. Verni is a senior interior designer at Stengel Hill Architecture and interior design manager at Summit Architects + Engineers.
“We look forward to welcoming back our alums for these presentations every year,” Swanson said. “Their stories show students that their degree can open a variety of career possibilities for them.”
Email aswan2@uky.edu if you are a UK College of Design alum interested in being featured in future renditions of this lecture series.