Earlier today a former LaGuardia New Media student, Miki Masuda, came in to speak to some of my capstone students about her experiences working in digital design, and transferring from LaGuardia to a senior college. Now just to give you some background, new media capstone students at LaGuardia are generally my most advanced designers. The have taken many of the required courses and are usually just a semester or so away from graduating. The capstone class, HUW 269 – New Media Project Lab, that I am teaching is designed to assist students in developing a final professional portfolio to facilitate transfer to a senior college or gain employment as a New Media designer.
Miki is an amazing designer. When I was looking for a guest speaker I knew she was just the type of New Media Technology graduate that would be an inspiration to my current students. Needless to say, she didn’t prove me wrong. During her hour long visit she walked us through the design of her newly developed portfolio site (MikiMasuda.com) and talked openly with students on the issues of portfolio creation and how to leverage it to get into the four year school of their choice.
Today was one of those days that made me particularly happy with the choice I made in 2001 to leave the private sector and become a professor. Whenever I start feeling uneasy about the lower salary I command now in comparison to my colleagues from my corporate days, I consider the positive impact that teaching can sometimes have on the students you meet. Plus having the summers off isn’t a bad thing either.