Alumni Profiles

Want to know what Watkins alumni are up to? Read below for more details.

Wish to post your profile online or want to nominate someone to be profiled?  Contact Lisa Dill at ldill@watkins.edu.

Amanda Dillingham - Fine Arts - 2005

Why did you choose Watkins? I originally attended the Art Institute in Atlanta. It didn’t really fit what I wantedin a degree program so I transferred to Watkins to stay in school until Ifigured out where I really wanted to go. After my first semester I knew thatWatkins was exactly what I was looking for. The classes were small and theprofessors all wanted you to succeed. It was a really supportive enviroment.

How did your education here prepare you for your career? Watkins definitely prepared me for graduate school. I cameinto my graduate school program with a strong theoretical and studiobackground. It really allowed me to be pushed because instead of having tostart with rudimentary readings I was able to skip ahead to read and writeabout theories that pertained specifically to my practice. Also, while atWatkins the former head of the program encouraged my friends and me to put onour own art shows with work we were doing for classes. This gave me experiencefor my current job as a gallery curator. The professors also gave us knowledgeto apply for other shows. I just had a show here in Nashvillebut have also applied for shows most recently in LosAngeles and New Jersey.Having lots of exhibition history also helps with getting jobs as well as into graduateschool.

What are you doing now? I currently work as the Gallery Curator at the Renaissance Centerin Dickson, TN. On the side I freelance write for theNashville Scene about art events around town. Finally, I am still pursuing acareer as an artist, entering shows, as well as conferences and maintainingstudio practice and research.

What did you like best about being a student here? I loved the community Watkins offers. Everyone in my classgot along really well. Everyone supported and encouraged each other. Also, itis great how the faculty treats students more as peers. I think it encourages alevel of dialogue that is really unique for an undergraduate school.

What was your favorite project that you worked on here? Doing the secret shows was the best project I was involvedin. We had so much fun putting on these shows. The relaxed atmosphere made it abig event that people didn’t want to miss and taught us tons about how toexhibit our own work, write statements and resumes, and how the audience wouldperceive it.

Why did you choose your particular field as a career? I had chosen graphic design, knowing that I really wanted tobe a fine art major, because my parents were worried I wouldn’t be able to get ajob. After a semester at Watkins and many conversations with the professors Idecided to change my major to what I loved. I knew if I put my mind to it, Icould make it work somehow! 

Lisa Stevens - Interior Design - 2009

Why did you choose Watkins?
I transferred to Watkins from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, MI. My biggest reason for transferring to Watkins was to be in a potentially better job market than Michigan and have better opportunities after graduation. Nashville is known for having a thriving economy and great appreciation for creative professions. Watkins had the accreditation I was looking for, and I was drawn to the small class sizes and convenient location to Downtown Nashville.

How did your education here prepare you for your career?
Watkins gave me a great foundation of knowledge that I gradually built upon in the professional world. I began interning very early in my education at Watkins, and had tons of professional work experience behind me by the time I graduated. Watkins also gave me opportunities to be a leader through orientation sessions, open houses, Student Government, and Student ASID & IIDA Chapters. Those experiences helped develop strong leadership skills that I now use professionally.

What are you doing now?
I am an Interior Designer at Thomas L. Anderson Architect, where I specialize in designing sacred space and commercial buildings. As a side project, I recently teamed up with a group of developers in Nashville to restore historic homes around Nashville and revitalize the neighborhoods. I became LEED-accredited in June ‘09 and enjoy designing LEED-certified buildings in the Nashville area. I love giving clients the opportunity to have a more sustainable story. Outside of my design profession, I recently opened Paper Finch Studio, a small fine art studio where I create and sell affordable, sustainable fine art.

What did you like best about being a student here?
I really enjoyed all the opportunities for involvement that Watkins offers. While there, I had opportunities to be a leader in several areas of service, volunteer work, and community involvement. Playing a major role in events and leadership at Watkins strengthened social networking and problem-solving skills that I would come to rely on professionally. Watkins also opened my eyes to a lot of issues facing our world today through various lectures and events, and gave me a broader perspective.

What was your favorite project that you worked on here?
I really enjoyed working on a hotel design in my Advanced Commercial Design class. Lajuana Gill was a fabulous professor and taught us so many valuable things about how contract documents are to be set up, how to organize a project binder, and so many technical aspects of a design project that has proved very useful professionally. I also got to experiment with color in texture in a way I hadn’t done before. Another memorable project was my involvement with the annual "YArt" sales. I got to be involved with the early attempts and later to see the event become stronger and more widely publicized. It really helped me learn what the public is looking for when purchasing art.

Why did you choose you particular field as a career?
I chose Interior Design because I’ve always had a great passion for the spaces that surround us, and how they affect us. I love problem-solving and brainstorming creative solutions to design constraints. I love working out a design as a sketch on paper, and then watch as it transforms into a real space, occupied by real people whose lives can benefit from a space that functions better, and improves their quality of life. I love working and collaborating with clients to achieve spaces that go above and beyond their expectations. It’s a really rewarding career!

Bill Cornelius- Film - 2005

Why did you choose Watkins? I chose Watkins because I was looking for a film college. Film had always been my passion and I didn’t want to waste years at a regular college that didn’t allow me the opportunities to learn and pursue my passion. Nashville is also close to my extended family in Kentucky, so it was nice to have them near.

How did your education here prepare you for your career? In addition to what I learned in class, I learned from working on various student film projects. In doing film at Watkins I feel like I was able to make all of my major mistakes before getting out into the professional world where making a big mistake could cost me a job. I also learned a lot about the film business in-general and the importance of networking.

What are you doing now? I started my own production company called Lavorsia Pictures Entertainment, which is named after my senior film at Watkins. I’ve been doing a lot of free-lance work, mostly directing, shooting, and editing music videos for various musicians around Nashville. I recently finished work on a documentary about the Bell Witch with fellow Watkins alum Zac Adams. I’m also in the midst of production on my first animated film. I try to keep myself continuously busy with no shortage of film projects.

What did you like best about being a student here? I was always overjoyed that I was actually going to a college for film. I’m glad I spent 4-years of my life learning about what I love, rather than wasting it somewhere else.

What was your favorite project that you worked on here? Probably my senior film "Lavorsia". It was the first film that I had written from the heart. Despite some trials and tribulations, I was very satisfied with the end product and felt a great sense of accomplishment being that it was my last student film.

Why did you choose your particular field as a career?  I have been actively pursuing film since I was 8-years old. It’s a joyous feeling for me to share my imagination with other people by way of film. I feel it was something I was born to do and will continue doing until I die.

Learn more about Bill by visiting www.lavorsia.com or www.bill-cornelius.com.

Shaun Slifer - Fine Arts - 2004

Why did youchoose Watkins? It was close to home (Memphis)and I could afford to go there, had a friend there from high school who wasenjoying it. Turned out to be a good call.

How did your education here prepare you for your career?
I learned a good combination of discipline and craftsmanship, but mostimportantly my teachers changed the way I thought about art by being fullyengaged with what I was doing and encouraging me to follow the ideas I dreamedup, guiding me to make them better. Much of that has stuck with me and I’mstill in touch with many of the instructors.

What are you doing now? I am a working artist in Pittsburghholding down several part-time jobs and a full time vegetable garden. I amemployed as an Artist Educator at the Andy WarholMuseum, I am integrallyinvolved in several artist collectives, and I regularly produce and exhibitwork in whatever media I can get my hands on.

What didyou like best about being a student here? Theinstructors, the encouragement. The lake was nice too, especially when we hadthat canoe.

What wasyour favorite project that you worked on here? That’simpossible to answer, come on! I had a blast on my thesis project though…

Why did youchoose your particular field as a career? It dawnedon me late in high school that I was never going to make it as a marinebiologist. Best to recognize your strong points and make clean moves wherepossible, follow your gut, and no walking under the eaves when it’s raining.

Learn more about Shaun at www.sslifer.net. Read his blog at mulchthief.blogspot.com.

 Lee Gilmore - Film - 2001

Why did you choose Watkins?  I chose to go the Watkins because of it’s location andit’s affordability.  I wanted to stay in the South during college andWatkins was my first choice.  It had a good film program as well as otherfine art classes I could take on the side. 

How did your education here prepare you for yourcareer? Watkins gave me a really great overall knowledge of thefilm making process, from all aspects of production down to the theory behindit.  The school gave me the chance to figure out what areas of film Ienjoyed the most and then provided the resources necessary for me to delvefurther in and get my hands dirty.  

What are you doing now? I spent the last two years working as a sound effectseditor in TV, working mainly on Law & Order:SVU and House.  Afterworking as an assistant sound editor on Live Free or Die Hard last year Idecided I enjoyed working on features more and recently made the switch. I’mcurrently a sound effects editor on The Ugly Truth and then move on to Underworld3 and Terminator Salvation this fall.

What did you like best about being a student here? I liked having smaller classes which allowed the facultyto have a more hands on approach in their teaching. I enjoyed all the editionsclasses and film history was a blast.   

What was your favorite project that you worked onhere? We had a project in my sound design class where we had torecut the entire sound for a movie trailer of our choosing.  It was myfirst real taste of sound editing and creating a believable world fromliterally nothing.  I was hooked after the first day.

Why did you choose your particular field as acareer? I love how subliminal and manipulative sound can be. Itallows for as much creativity as you can muster.  It’s one of themost under-appreciated parts of film, but also one of the mostpowerful. Picture tells the story.  Music makes you feel it.  Butsound makes you believe it. 

Katie Bean de Souza - Graphic Design - 2005

Why did you choose Watkins?  I already had a bachelor’sdegree when I decided to go back to school for a degree in graphic design and Iwanted a school where I could really focus on my studies. Watkins seemed likethe perfect school for what I needed.

Howdid your education here prepare you for your career?  At WatkinsI was able to focus on graphic design.

Whatare you doing now? I am working as an art director at redpepper, a Nashville-basedadvertising agency.

What was your favorite project that you worked on here? The BellyDancing Festival Poster. The assignment was to create a poster for an unusualfestival using only type (no photos and no illustrations). So, I created theshape of a belly dancer with type that read "More hip shaken’ than a roomfull of Elvis impersonators". It was a fun project. And it won a silver ADDYat the National level which just happened to be in Nashville that year. My boss at redpeppertook me and my husband to the event in a limo to celebrate my big win and wehad an awesome time.

Why did you choose your particular field as a career?  AsI mentioned before, I had already gotten a Bachelors degree in Journalism andAdvertising. I worked at an advertising agency, as the production and trafficmanager and saw what the graphic designers did - day in and day out. I knewthat with the proper education and training that I could do that - and could bedamn good at it too.