ABOUT BAILEY
- From Cleveland, OH
- Member of the Class of 2027
- Majoring in Visual Communication Design
- Drum major in the Marching Golden Flashes
- Interned at hometown favorites, Malley's Chocolates and Cleveland Metroparks
Bailey's three words that describe Kent State: Community, Picturesque, Supportive
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT AT KENT STATE!
I am a junior Visual Communication Design (VCD) major. I am also a drum major in the Marching Golden Flashes and play the piccolo in the Flasher Brass pep band. I am currently also a membership candidate for the Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band sorority. Additionally, I work as a tour guide for the admissions office. I have also worked for the KentStater, our student-run newspaper, as a copy editor and as a peer success mentor for a Flashes 101 first-year orientation class.
I love being a student at Kent State! I am enrolled in a great program with great faculty. I’m involved with the bands. I’m not too close but not too far from home, and I’ve made so many great friends and connections.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE KENT STATE?
At the moment I stepped onto campus, it already felt like home. Both my parents are alumni, and they would take me to explore campus when I was young. Growing up, Kent started to feel more familiar to me. However, I was the one who ultimately decided on Kent, and I definitely made the right decision. I love how welcoming Kent State is and always has been and how many opportunities there are to meet people. Additionally, the VCD program is well known, especially because of our experienced faculty, so that swayed my decision as well!
WHEN DID KENT STATE START TO FEEL LIKE HOME?
Kent State really started feeling like home in my second year because of my involvement in campus organizations like the KentStater and the marching band, where I met my closest friends. Once you meet a few people, you’ll meet their friends, and their friends, and their friends, and in no time, you’ll know twice as many people as you did before.
WHAT'S A COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD?
I attended a talk with alumnus Marcus Lehto, a creative director and game developer best known for his work on the Halo video games. He talked about his time as a student and how it shaped his experience as a game developer. It was great to see someone who completed the same program I'm in now become part of something so big!
A cool learning experience outside of my major was as a peer success mentor for a Flashes 101 class. I was able to take a leadership class and learn valuable skills for Flashes 101 and beyond.
WHO HAS MADE YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE SPECIAL?
Professor Chad Lewis in the VCD program has definitely had an impact on me. Being in a creative major, it can be difficult to stay confident in yourself and stay motivated. Chad has always been there, with a smile on his face and a welcoming presence. He has helped me unlock that confidence and create pieces that I am proud of. It is also incredibly cool to get advice from a Marvel comic book artist!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY?
Being involved in the marching band, both as a member and as a drum major. We have created such a close bond, even though there are about 250 of us. It’s so much fun being able to put on a great show for every football game and get the crowd going!
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS, POST-GRADUATION?
The VCD program has helped me blossom into the designer and artist that I want to be. All of the faculty have such different backgrounds, from comic book and graphic novel artists to packaging designers to web designers to print designers and more, which gives me diverse perspectives on the field.
During the Internship Prep class, we developed resumes, cover letters, personal branding, business cards, portfolios and presentation skills. This class, combined with other studios where I practice my design and illustration techniques, allowed me to land internships at Malley’s Chocolates and Cleveland Metroparks. I’m very passionate about my hometown of Cleveland, and it’s been my dream to work for local companies, so I’m grateful for the VCD program for helping me get there.
WHY SHOULD OTHER STUDENTS CHOOSE KENT STATE?
You will never feel like just a number here. We are the perfect size where there are so many different students with so many different perspectives, but everyone is so close. The same thing goes for faculty — you will create bonds with your professors and your advisors that will help you both professionally and emotionally.