VCD alumna Monica Gerdeman (ʼ11, photography) has accepted a position as a staff writer for the Putnam County Sentinel in Ottawa, Ohio. Gerdeman's position includes photography, writing, graphic design and layout. The Putnam County Sentinel is a weekly award-winning newspaper recognized by the Ohio Newspaper Association as one of the best weekly publications in Ohio.

Department of Theatre alumnus Brent Bruin (ʼ09) is now the workroom supervisor for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, California. Brent is in charge of managing the costume shop for three theater spaces including The Kirk Douglas Theater, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theater. Bruin's current shows include Red, Elephant Room and November. You can catch up on the shows Bruin is working on by visiting Center Theatre Group. 

Art education graduate Erin McKeever (ʼ12) now is teaching art at Lafayette Meadows Schools for the Southwest Allen County School Corporation. Erin is replacing Sachiko Janek (ʼ09 art education) who is moving out of state.

VCD graphic design student Nathan Runda is an award finalist in the illustration category of the 2012 Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Awards. ACP is the oldest and largest national organization for college and university student journalists. Rundasʼ winning work was used in November 2011 as a cover illustration for The Communicator, IPFWsʼ student newspaper.

The cover of the new VCD student handbook features a photographic floral image by Jacqueline Warfield. Warfield is the VCD secretary and IPFW student.

Alma Hoffman, assistant professor of graphic design, participated in an online design discussion hosted by Diane Gibbs, assistant professor of graphic design at the University of South Alabama on June 6, 2012. The focus of the webcast was the importance of doodling and sketching. You can see and hear the discussion online.

Audrey Ushenko, professor of fine arts, has been commissioned by the state of Illinois to create a painting at the Illinois State Museum (ISM)Chicago Gallery. The ISM Chicago Gallery exhibits and promotes the work of contemporary and historical Illinois artists. You can find out more about the ISM.

Ushenko also completed her fourth year as a teacher and featured speaker at the Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution. Located on Chautauqua Lake, Chautauqua Institution is in southwestern New York state. It is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through programs that explore the important religious, social and political issues of our times. More than 700,000 people visit Chautauqua Institution each summer. For more on Ushenko's lecture [pdf].   

Mikhael Antone, VCD assistant professor in imaging and photography, had her photographic work Train Yard published by 3200K, which produces both a weekly online magazine and quarterly printed journal. 3200K seeks to create exhibition opportunities for emerging artists and features works made with light-based media employing traditional analog photographic methods. You can view the full story.

VCD alumna Karrine Williams (ʼ11) recently published four photos with credits in the July 2012 issue of Fort Wayne Glo magazine. Glo is a free womanʼs lifestyle magazine for the greater Fort Wayne area whose mission is to provide women fresh, local perspectives on health, family, beauty and living trends.