OUR TEAM

Throughout her more than 27-year career as a graphic designer, Trisha has worked in Hawaii, California and her home (and favorite) state of Michigan. An innovative and deadline-driven graphic designer with experience in branding and designing user-centered print and digital marketing material from initial concept to final, polished deliverable, Trisha has designed for Central Michigan University since 1999.

A graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, fostering cats and kittens for the local Humane Society and working in her flower garden.

A versatile go-getter, Mel has transformed experience in electronic media, public relations and journalism into a graphic arts career at CMU. In addition to creating high-impact pieces for the university, she oversees Media Graphix, CMU’s only student-led design agency.

Keeping busy comes second nature to Mel. When she’s not running an Etsy shop, fighting to save old houses and restoring furniture, she’s trying managing a zoo of pets — eight cats and two dogs. Oh, and she’s going back for her MBA.

Kelsey turned her passion for storytelling into a profession when she earned a journalism degree from CMU. She’s built a considerable knowledge base of search engine optimization best practices, marketing tactics and content creation strategies, and she puts them to work for her alma mater.

Stories aren’t the only thing Kelsey creates. She’s known around the office for her crafty nature, crocheting and sewing everything from garden gnomes to small dog capes (you read that correctly) and everything in between.

Theresa has over 15 years of experience in research design and data analysis. She traded studying sharks and snakes for marketing and recruitment in higher ed. Theresa is the finger on the pulse, helping us understand trends and highlights in our work.

A CMU alum, she enjoys spending time outdoors, climbing, kayaking, backpacking and camping with her husband, also an alum, and their two boys. A true lifelong learner, she's always looking for innovative ways to incorporate the newest technologies into her everyday life.

As poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” From volunteer management for nonprofit organizations to speechwriting and fundraising for higher ed, Ari infuses every role with a hefty dose of sparkling enthusiasm and unfailing optimism. Whether breaking down silos, connecting people across divisions or fostering collaboration among diverse teams, playing nicely together in the sandbox is more than a metaphor for Ari.

When she’s not furiously typing or scribbling notes in brightly colored ink, she’s throwing the Frisbee for her dog, Roo, or getting lost in the pages of a book — the bigger, the better.

Since 2017, Paul’s been the man behind the video camera. You’ve seen him around campus, but you might not have known it. He’s the guy tilting up and down or panning left and right getting just the right angle for the shot. Representing people’s life passions through visual storytelling has been his passion and profession since 2011.

Of course, that passion spills over to his personal life. When Paul’s not playing hockey, softball or golf, he’s spending time with his fiancée and their dog, or finding a new movie, show or documentary to watch.

A 2018 CMU journalism grad turned social media and community management pro, Erick coordinates award-winning storytelling projects and runs our social media communities. Like all good communicators, his focus is on strengthening the brand through community engagement.

His passion for roasting coffee is to his overcaffeinated wife and friends' benefits. He spends the rest of his free time reading, bingeing sci-fi and fantasy shows, gaming with friends and playing with his dog.

From a student occupying Warriner Hall during a sit-in to a proud alum, from a faculty member teaching graphics and media studies to a staff member with the communications team since 2017, Jeff has worn many CMU hats over the last 30-plus years. He’s a thinker, planner, writer, editor and proofreader who’s always on the lookout for great CMU stories our team can share.

When he’s not on the job, he’s most likely enjoying family time with his wife and four daughters, making music on guitar or piano, or building scale model kits in an attempt to relive his long-ago childhood. Unless the cat is on his lap, in which case he’s doing nothing.