I attended MSUM from 2004 to 2008, initially enrolling in the Music Industry program with a focus on audio engineering and the business of music. During that time, I collaborated with fellow students and faculty across departments, offering technical expertise to support creative projects, from mixing and mastering to digital problem-solving. One standout moment included helping a professor develop a 3D spatial audio performance that gained national recognition, transforming a solo vocal into a four-part immersive sound experience using speaker placement and digital processing.

While pursuing music, I frequently found myself assisting peers in other programs, contributing to their work in graphic design, web development, videography, 3D modeling, and business communications. A friend pointed out that much of what I was already doing aligned with the university’s Graphic Communications program. Around that same time, the Music Industry department underwent a curriculum shift toward performance, which no longer aligned with my goals, prompting me to officially switch majors.

• Tutoring & Peer Support
Within my first month in the Graphic Communications program, the department chair personally asked me to tutor other students. I later formalized this role through a contract with the North Dakota Department of Human Services, working alongside professional interpreters to support deaf students in mastering multimedia tools.

• Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum
The Graphic Communications program was a hybrid of disciplines, blending design, photography, video production, 3D modeling, animation, business theory, and computer science. I leveraged my background in audio engineering to expand project scope and frequently collaborated across departments.

• Horizonlines.org
I was invited by the department to lead design and development for Horizonlines.org, an annual online magazine produced by MSUM’s Mass Communications students. I created a custom Flash-based site styled like a flippable book, integrating photo and video assets. Our volume was later honored with a Student Production Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Upper Midwest Chapter).

• Capstone Project: MIDI Made Easy
For my capstone, I merged skills from both majors to create a dual-platform (Mac/PC) educational toolkit focused on MIDI. I wrote, directed, and recorded a full tutorial series and designed a standalone application to host it. The project won “Best in Show” at the university’s senior presentation ceremony.

• Student Mac Technician
In parallel with coursework, I worked for MSUM’s IT Resources department as a Student Mac Technician. I supported campus-wide lab environments, maintained Apple servers, helped manage student web infrastructure, and offered hands-on support to faculty and students. I also helped lead the campus Mac Club and collaborated with Apple reps on product feedback and support.

My time at MSUM shaped the multidisciplinary approach I take into every project. From audio to visual design, from tech infrastructure to user experience, I gained practical exposure to every layer of a creative and technical stack. These early experiences honed my ability to lead, adapt, and bring projects to life, skills that have proven invaluable in my career as a full stack engineer and creative technologist.