Mentorship extends beyond the classroom by providing students with individualized guidance as they pursue independent creative research, long-term projects, and professional goals. Whether through independent studies or graduate thesis work, students are encouraged to define their own creative direction, solve increasingly complex problems, and develop the confidence to realize ambitious ideas. These projects reflect a collaborative mentoring process that emphasizes critical thinking, creative exploration, technical growth, and the development of an individual artistic voice.

Independent Studies

Independent studies allow students to pursue self-directed creative projects with individualized mentorship. These experiences encourage exploration, technical growth, and creative confidence while helping students transform personal interests into meaningful portfolio-quality work.

Juhi Shree Palanisamy

Independent Study — Children’s Book Development

Through an independent study, Juhi Shree Palanisamy developed Go Away, an original illustrated children’s book inspired by themes of friendship, belonging, and family. Working through story development, visual storytelling, illustration, and book design, she refined both her narrative and artistic voice while completing a fully realized publication.

Rachel Christensen
WISH — Original Animated Series Development

Through an independent study, Rachel Christensen developed WISH, an original animated series that combined character design, environmental storytelling, and worldbuilding into a cohesive visual development project. Working through iterative design, narrative planning, and visual exploration, she established the creative foundation for an original story while strengthening her skills in concept development and preproduction.

Rebecca Glenn

Hereafter — Animated Series Pitch Bible

Through an independent study, Rebecca Glenn developed Hereafter, an original animated series presented as a comprehensive pitch bible. Combining character design, environment design, story development, props, and storyboard sequences, the project demonstrated how visual development and narrative planning come together to communicate a cohesive animated series concept.

Graduate Thesis Projects

Graduate thesis projects represent the culmination of sustained research, creative practice, and interdisciplinary problem solving. Working over the course of a year, students investigate a question or challenge that extends beyond the classroom, developing original work that combines scholarship, design, and production into a cohesive body of research. The projects featured here demonstrate how mentorship supports students as they move from creative exploration to independent professional practice.

Patrick Daniel Sandoval
Designing and Building an Action Figure of Alexander the Great to Better Engage Young Learners in History

Patrick Daniel Sandoval’s MFA thesis explored how physical design and play can encourage young learners to engage with history. Drawing inspiration from historical research, classical sculpture, action figures, and contemporary character design, he designed, digitally sculpted, 3D printed, and assembled an articulated action figure of Alexander the Great as a proof of concept for educational storytelling through interactive objects.

Mary Catherine McGinnis Wilcox
What Makes a Cozy Game Cozy? Looking Through the Lens of Feminism and 4E Cognition

Mary Catherine McGinnis Wilcox’s MFA thesis explored the relationship between feminist game studies, 4E cognition, and the emerging genre of cozy games. Combining scholarly research with original visual development and game design, she created Little Burrow Bakery, an original game concept that demonstrates how character design, environmental storytelling, and player-centered interaction can foster experiences of comfort, exploration, and emotional connection.

Ethan C. Richards
An Exploration of Non-Photorealistic Rendering Techniques and Styles to Bridge Mood and Style Using Unreal Engine

Ethan C. Richards’ MFA thesis explored how non-photorealistic rendering techniques can strengthen the relationship between visual style and storytelling in real-time environments. Through the development of A Fateful Night, he researched painterly and comic-inspired rendering methods in Unreal Engine, creating original shader systems and stylized environments that demonstrate how technical innovation can support artistic expression.

Delaney L. Walker
The Uses of Dramaturgical Research in Cinematic Storytelling, Asset Design, and Adaptation in Animation

Delaney L. Walker’s MFA thesis explored how dramaturgical research can strengthen cinematic storytelling through historically grounded visual development and adaptation. Centered on an animated interpretation of the Japanese folktale The Black Hair, the project combined literary analysis, cultural research, storyboarding, character design, and environmental development to demonstrate how historical scholarship can directly inform visual storytelling and production design.

Across independent studies and graduate thesis projects, my goal is to help students develop the confidence, critical perspective, and practical skills necessary to move from guided exploration toward an independent creative practice.