Meet Some of Our Alumni

Amy Arrington (B.A. Studio Art, 2007) went on to study at the commercial advertising school The Creative Circus in Atlanta, from where she graduated in 2009. She is currently the owner of the successful commercial photography business Amy Arrington Photography, based in Gainesville, GA.

Stephanie Beaver (B.S. Art Marketing, 2009) is currently a private contractor for Applied Studios in Dahlonega, GA, a professional IT development and marketing media company, where she designs websites, logos, brochures, and other advertising materials. She also works as a freelance wedding and portrait photographer.

Rebecca Biechteler (B.A. Studio Art, 2008) is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Art Education at North Georgia College & State University. She also teaches Fine Arts at Ridge Creek School, a college preparatory therapeutic boarding school located in Dahlonega, GA, and works as a freelance photographer.

Jennifer Brinson (B.S. Art Education, 2010) is currently the Visual Arts Teacher at Gainesville Middle School in Gainesville, GA. She is also developing a business of custom cakes and specialty desserts which will open in the North Georgia area.

Colleen Caporal (B.A. Studio Art, 2007) is currently finishing an MFA in Digital Arts with a concentration in Digital Imaging at the Pratt Institute in New York, where she was awarded two important scholarships. Since her graduation, her work has been exhibited in various museums and galleries such as the Museum of Computer Art in Brooklyn, and it has been reviewed in Pixel to Plates magazine.

Cara de Celles (B.A. Studio Art, 2007) currently operates a studio just outside Cleveland,GA where she paints, sculpts, and makes porcelain and stoneware pottery.

Jason Fowler (B.A. Studio Art, 2007) works at Transcend Computer Solutions as a graphic and web designer, and every summer he teaches at the Artful Barn Summer Camp. He is also a freelance artist, caricaturist, and graphic designer who received paid commissions from Wal-Mart, the Habersham County School System, March of Dimes, and the City of Cornelia, among others. He has also published an e-book entitled The beginner’s book to drawing caricatures.

Parker Halstead (B.S. Art Marketing, 2010) is currently the Associate Director of Alumni Relations at North Georgia College & State University. She is creating exciting new opportunities and programs to North Georgia's young alumni, which includes all graduates from the past ten years.

Kali Hanson (B.S. Art Marketing, 2006) is currently Account Executive at the leading Atlanta direct marketing agency BKV.  She provides strategic direction for direct mail pieces and online direct marketing campaigns. In her spare time, she continues to enjoy painting.

Ashley Holbrooks (B.S. Art Education, 2010) is actively searching for a teaching job. She is also researching different graduate programs, as she hopes to continue her education in the near future. She continues to experiment with printmaking as well as book arts and mixed media.

Lindsey Holmes (B.S. Art Marketing, 2009) is a freelance graphic and web designer working in Dahlonega. She has held commissions for Dahlonega Development Authority, Dahlonega Small Ring Adventures, Bead Amigas, The Georgia Appalachian Studies Center, and North Georgia College & State University.

Joseph Hummel (B.S. Art Marketing, 2009) owns of Fallen Together Photography, a freelance photography company located in Dahlonega, GA. He specializes in studio portraits, live action, and music photography.

Kyle Jones (B.A. Studio Art, 2009) works and teaches full-time at Pottery for Living in Cumming, GA. He has also furthered his ceramics education studying under the internationally acclaimed potters John Britt, Richard Aerni, and Kevin Crow. Next spring, he will be taking over the NGCSU Continuing Education ceramics program.

Ester Limpscomb (B.S. Art Education, 1999) is currently a studio potter at Pottery For Living, in Gainesville, GA. Between 2008 and 2010, she was the Artist in Residence at the Funky Chicken Art Project. She routinely holds positions as substitute art teacher in public schools, and she regularly participates in collective shows in the North Georgia area. As a community volunteer, she takes her artistic and teaching skills to institutions such as the Lumpkin County Senior Center, Family Haven’s Women Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Free Art for Abused Children, and many others.

Adam Nash (B.S. Art Marketing, 2000) went on to earn a Masters of Art Education (M.Ed.) from North Georgia College & State University in 2003. He currently owns Adam Nash Photography, a successful photography business based in the North Georgia area.

Melissa Prosser (B.S. Art Marketing, 2005) is the owner of the successful wedding photography business Melissa Prosser Photography, based in Atlanta. She is the award-winning member of the Wedding Photojournalist Associations and the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

Kari Ruff (B.A. Studio Art, 2004) went on to earn her M.S. in Art Therapy from Florida State University in 2008. At FSU, she received awards for her photographic work, including a permanent purchase award in the Turner/Rollins Juried Student Art Show in 2007.  She also co-produced a documentary entitled “Redrawing: Art Therapy after Hurricane Katrina,” which addresses how children benefitted from art therapy after Hurricane Katrina. This documentary was chosen to be presented at the Art for Justice Symposium at FSU in 2007. In Florida, she worked as an Art Therapist with children in the Exceptional Student Education Program in the school system, and she did contract work conducting Art Therapy groups for at risk children and families. She currently works as an Art Therapist for Peachford Behavioral Hospital in Atlanta, and she conducts groups for women in recovery from addictions at Breakthrough Recovery Outreach. 

Megan Smith (B.A. Studio Art, 2000) is a talented mixed media painter who is committed to making a living as an artist. Works by her are frequently commissioned and sought-after by private members of the North Georgia community, and she regularly participates in collective exhibitions.

Emily Stephens (B.A. Studio Art, 2009) is currently Ceramic Studio Assistant for the Department of Visual Arts, NGCSU. She has also worked as Ceramic Instructor at Adult Continuing Education, NGCSU, and she regularly participates in collective exhibitions in the North Georgia area.

Karen Truett-Weiner (B.A. Studio Art, 2004) displays her work in the North Georgia area restaurants and sells it in boutiques. She currently paints commissioned works and designs jewelry under the name Black Tea Designs.