Valparaiso University alumna MyLinh (Millie) Mac, Class of 2016, recently reflected on the decade since she received her Bachelor of Arts in art. Her career path has moved across fine art, design, education, and creative leadership, culminating in her team winning an Emmy for Best Children’s Program this past July. Mac attributes her diverse achievements, including international art exhibitions and her current role as a graphic designer for Colorado State University’s marketing and brand management team, to the foundational experiences and guidance she received at Valparaiso University.
Mac’s early creative endeavors at Valpo were sparked by her friends in the Valparaiso International Student Association (VISA), who encouraged her initial designs, including a Halloween poster created using Microsoft Paint. She later served on the VISA executive board and secured her first marketing and graphic design position with the Office of International Programs (OIP). This role was specifically created for her by former Director and Professor Moninder "Holly" Singh, providing Mac with an introduction to global cultures that continues to influence her work today.
Her Valparaiso education extended beyond technical skills, with faculty members providing significant mentorship. Professor Robert "Bob" Sirko encouraged Mac to pursue multiple creative interests, showing her that it was possible to be a painter, a designer, and more. Professor Sarah Jantzi instilled an appreciation for beauty in everyday objects through her oil painting classes. Professor Aimee Tomasek provided a powerful mindset shift, teaching Mac to embrace criticism and leverage her unique qualities, which Mac later realized was key to making her work distinctive in a competitive field. These interactions formed the "secret sauce" of her Valpo education, providing a "solid launchpad" for her career.
After graduating from Valparaiso, Mac pursued further education, earning a master’s degree in art education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 2019, followed by a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from Columbia College Chicago (CCC) in 2021. Two years after leaving Valpo, she launched Ranbu, an 80-piece abstract painting series created without brushes. The success of Ranbu led to her next series, Constellation, and opportunities to exhibit her work beyond traditional galleries, including at art hotels, the Carrousel du Louvre, a Guinness Record exhibition, and on a billboard in Times Square. Her work has also led to invitations to judge international design awards for AIVA and the Farmani Group for over seven years.
In 2022, Mac joined Colorado State University as a graphic designer for its marketing and brand management team, a role she describes as the intersection of artist, designer, and educator. There, her team earned an Emmy Award for Best Children’s Program for WizKid at CSU SPUR. Mac has also served as a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant panelist and an advocate for artists through the UNESCO-partnered IAA-USA. She notes that the Valpo habit of "showing up and helping build something" has continued to define her involvement in new committees and initiatives.
Mac reflects that Valparaiso University's art program, though smaller than some other majors, "quietly nurtures creative powerhouses." She emphasizes that she is not the only Emmy winner from the department and was not a straight-A student, underscoring the program’s ability to foster significant artistic achievement. Her mentors' encouragement taught her that creativity can make a "real, powerful impact" in a distinct way, similar to peers in STEM fields.
For current Valpo students, Mac advises embracing "slow growth" and prioritizing relationships. She encourages them to hold onto friends who celebrate their successes and notes the value of the Valpo alumni network for both professional and personal support.
Mac also shared some memorable Valpo experiences, including her belief that she and her friends contributed to the Christopher Center Library changing its closing time from 2 a.m. to midnight in 2017 due to their late-night activities. Additionally, in 2014, she painted a mural across the Harre Union Ballroom stage as a farewell gift for Holly Singh’s last Annual World Banquet, which became an "accidental tradition" for subsequent VISA crews.
