True North Lives

What is “True North?” It is a concept that combines the common navigational term “true north” with the idea of a special journey. It is a promise about what is true about Ohio Northern.

ONU is one of the few private comprehensive universities to offer a distinctive blend of quality liberal arts and professional programs. As a student here, you discover extraordinary opportunities. You find support for turning your passions into reality. And you make lifelong connections to ensure a successful career.

The art & design department at Ohio Northern University is a dynamic program where real-world learning is a fact of life. Students combine professional training and a broad study of the liberal arts to become effective artists, designers and teachers in a contemporary society. Our alumni span careers in the fine arts, design, education, psychology, business and many other fields.

On your journey, there are many choices, opportunities and challenges. Discover [your] True North at one of the most vibrant art and design programs in the country. Start your journey here!

Abby Brown
Advertising Design, Spanish Minor
High School: Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy
Hometown: Cincinnati

What led you to ONU?
I wanted to study Advertising Design but I didn’t necessarily want to attend an art school. ONU was one of the few schools near my hometown that had Ad Design as a major, so it caught my interest.

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
I decided to attend Ohio Northern mainly because of the close-knit community. I really felt at home and comfortable whenever I visited the school, and the campus was beautiful. I felt like my education and development as a designer would benefit from the individual attention each student received from their professors.

Any personal discoveries as a student at ONU?
I’ve discovered some of my own strength and weaknesses throughout my classes, which has been both challenging and enjoyable. Looking back on my artwork from a few years ago, I can see how much I've grown as an artist, photographer and designer.

What’s your success story as a student at ONU?
So far in my college career, I have photographed a wedding, planned an art show, created my own website, designed posters for ONU’s literary magazine, and gotten internship offers in the Cincinnati and Chicago areas. If this is what I’ve done in under two years, I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish in the future.

Lauren Hector
Graphic Design Major
High School: Cory-Rawson High School
Hometown: Mt. Cory, Ohio

What led you to ONU?
I was led to Ohio Northern because of the small, hometown atmosphere. Being from a small town myself, it just felt right. You receive a lot of one on one time with your professors and everybody seems to know everybody.

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
I decided to attend Ohio Northern for a number of reasons. I liked the small class sizes and hometown atmosphere. Also, Ohio Northern offered a lot of opportunities for scholarships, which I was so fortunate to take advantage of. This is a personal preference, but I also wanted to stay close to home. I live about 40 minutes away, so ONU is far enough away that I can be independent, but close enough to home that if I needed something or there was an emergency, I could make it back.

Any personal discoveries as a student at ONU?
I wouldn't say I had any real discoveries, but ONU has definitely reinforced my ideas of what I want to do with my life career-wise. I always knew I wanted to do something art related, and graphic design seemed like a good fit for me. Through my classes and experiences at and with Ohio Northern, I am certain that this is what I want to do as my career. Ohio Northern just really reinforced that for me.

What's your success story as a student at ONU?
I am only a sophomore here at Ohio Northern University, but I already have an internship lined up for this summer. I was recommended for this internship by one of my professors. This just goes to show how much your professors really care about you and your future. Opportunities are always just around the corner. If you push yourself and put forth your best effort, good things will come to you. Hard work doesn't go unnoticed.

Micaela Nauman
Advertising Design Major
High School: Sparta Highland High School
Hometown: Fredericktown, OH

What led you to ONU?
Prior to attending ONU, I had a sister who went to school at Ohio Northern. While visiting her and during my college visits, I fell in love with the campus and the community. I was looking for a school that I knew provided a well-rounded education and fulfilled my desire to further my volleyball career. Ohio Northern was the best match. I had always enjoyed art, but had never really considered spending the rest of my life creating it. After exploring what the design program at Ohio Northern had to offer, I felt it was exactly what I was looking for and I knew it was the perfect fit for me to spend four of the most important years of my life.

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
Choosing to attend Ohio Northern has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was unsure of my abilities as both an artist and a designer because of my lack of experience in art prior to college. But my interest in it led me to take a chance, and now that I’m three years into pursuing my degree, I’ve realized how truly passionate and driven I am towards design. The entire department, especially the professors, has made my experience very rewarding and has truly helped mold me into the designer I am. The small community atmosphere and the friendship the entire department shares kept me from the intimidation factor I would have encountered at a bigger, specialized art school, and I believe that has truly helped me to be successful.

Any personal discoveries while at ONU?
A few things I’ve discovered about myself while at ONU are my abilities to manage my time, my attention to detail, and my drive to focus for countless hours when I’m working on something I’m passionate about. Having the opportunity to play for a very demanding volleyball program for two years was very influential in forcing me to learn to manage academics, class projects, practice and games, and still finding time to maintain meaningful relationships with family and friends. It was tough. But, now that injury has led me to give-up volleyball, I’ve only grown to be more focused on design which has been the best opportunity in the long run. The variety of classes offered through the art & design department has given me a well-rounded appreciation of all the facets of art and design. With each project, I only become more detail-oriented as my skills continue to grow. The projects are very demanding. To truly create the best work, many hours are required to complete projects, as well as the ability to stay focused for hours on end. While pulling all-nighters doesn’t sound like much fun, I don’t think our department would have it any other way because of the fun we have and how some of the best creativity evolves in the wee hours of the morning.

Corey Zinser
Sophomore, Advertising Design Major
High School: Loveland Senior High School
Hometown: Loveland, Ohio

What led you to ONU?

As a kid, I always enjoyed playing soccer, though I did a lot of drawing. I didn’t think about art or design until one of my friends majored in design at Ohio Northern. When I looked at the school, I knew I would receive a great education. I also wanted to play soccer, so the coach had a big impact on my decision to come to ONU. When it was time to apply to colleges, ONU was my first choice.

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
I knew I wanted a small school with a lot of opportunities. Being able to play soccer was important to me, but I also wanted a strong academic program. I first thought about broadcasting, and then later during my first term at ONU, I switched to advertising design. I think it was a good choice for me.

Any personal discoveries as a student while at ONU?
Because I had to juggle classes, homework, studying, meetings and practices, I learned how to manage my time really well. As my photography professor said, timing is everything. I used my class time well and started projects as soon as they were assigned. It was also nice that the Wilson Art Center was opened late. I was able to use small pockets of time and my evenings to get projects completed for class.

What's your success story as a student at ONU?
Wow, with everything going on, I was able to play soccer and pass all of my classes during my first year! I worked hard on developing my skills and will put more of a focus on my design work as I begin my concentration. There are some good student designers here. I know this is the place for me.

Bethany Schreck
Senior, Advertising Design Major
High School: Bethel Park High School
Hometown: Bethel Park, PA.
Activities: AIGA/The Professional Association for Design, Kappa Pi art honorary, Student Planning Committee, Student Senate, Delta Zeta.

Why ONU?
I feel I have grown so much as a designer at ONU. It’s a great experience. I am more passionate about my craft than ever before. I have fun, and my personality still has plenty of room to shine through my work.

What would you like to do after graduation? Any professional goals?
After graduating, I hope to pursue a career at an advertising firm or as an art director at a magazine. I would love to eventually receive a doctorate degree in order to teach at the college level.

Any favorite things or memories for you while at ONU?
My daily dose of working and socializing in the studio. Strolling on a sunny day and entering McIntosh Center at peak lunch hours to greet so many friendly faces. Volunteering to work different campus events.

Lauren Bailey
Advertising Design Major, BFA ’10
High School: Whetstone High School (Columbus, OH)
Hometown: Galena, OH

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
I’ve always had a passion for art and design, computers, and marketing, so when I found out that Ohio Northern was launching an advertising design program, I knew it would be the perfect program for me. I love that I am able to incorporate everything that I enjoy and will be able to do so for my entire career. I’m excited to be the one who will design the packaging for the new box of cereal, the one who creates a new promotional campaign for a department store, or the one who designs a billboard for the upcoming box office hit. I love that there is a program available that allows me to have so many options!

Why ONU?
When I first visited ONU, I fell in love with the campus: The people, the programs, the location, everything. I felt like it was where I was supposed to be. I visited several other campuses around Ohio and none of them seemed to measure up to my experience at Northern.

What do you enjoy most about Ohio Northern?
I love that my instructors know me personally and are able to help whenever I may need them. I love the small town atmosphere where I feel safe. I love that I am able to study something that I’m passionate about… it’s as if I had a program designed just for me.

AJ (Arnaldo) Jimenez
Art/Graphic Design Major, BFA ’09
High School: J.F. Rhodes High School
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Activities: AIGA|The Professional Association for Design, Student Art League, and the Latino Student Union

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
I first heard of Ohio Northern through a football recruiter. He told me about the university and asked if I wanted to play for Ohio Northern. He thought I would do well here.

So, I visited the campus and meet the players. Everyone was friendly and the campus had great facilities. I knew I wanted to play football here. It also helped that I got a big scholarship to attend ONU. But, at that time, I had no idea what I was going to study.

What led you to study graphic design?
I met with the chair of the department during a summer orientation. He simply asked me about my passions. It was art and design, but I had no idea that you could make a living in the field! So, with little convincing, I took a few foundations classes, and, as they say, the rest is history.

What did you like best about Ohio Northern?
It’s certainly the small class sizes and the sense of community in the art & design department. They were like my family. And I know that I had access to a lot of resources, much like at a large university.

What are your professional aspirations?
I am working in the graphic design industry in Cleveland. I eventually want to open a firm of my own! And, my final goal is to become a professor and to share my knowledge of design with future students.


Kristy Lepley
Graphic Designer, Citizens National Bank
ONU Major/Graduation Date: Art/Graphic Design Major, BFA '01
High School and Hometown: Bath High School, Lima, Ohio

What led you to ONU?
Since I was from Lima, I had heard a lot of good things about ONU and really wanted to go there. ONU also allowed me to stay close to my hometown.

Why did you decide to attend ONU?
It was close to home and my plan was to major in Medical Technology and go onto school to be a Physician Assistant. When I visited ONU, I was really impressed with how interested the professors were in me and showing me the University. The classes were small and it seemed as though it would be easy to get personal attention.

Any personal discoveries as a student while at ONU?
During my first year as a Med Tech student, I was able to get a job working for a local hospital learning about the job I would be doing after graduation. During my time there, I realized that just wasn't where my heart was set to be working. The professors helped me figure out through career classes and counseling that the Graphic Design would be a good fit. My Junior year I switched over to the art department and loved every minute of it. My internship at another local hospital showed me that I could use my knowledge of science while doing a job I loved.

What's your success story as a graduate?
I am currently the graphic and web designer for Citizens National Bank, a community bank in Bluffton, Ohio. I have worked with the marketing team there for 6 years. Through this job I have been able to grow into all aspects of marketing, from tv to radio to web to print. I feel that my classes at ONU and my internship helped me get a good knowledge base for my career and from there I have continued to grow professionally.