Yanina Blanco

I'm currently working as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University, where I've been an educator since 2003 and a graphic designer for around 15 years. I decided to pursue this path because I really enjoy working with this age group and giving them the best education we can. I'm passionate about graphic design and wanted to become a professor in this field. Right now, I'm working with all students, but I'm especially focused on students with special educational needs. A typical day for me involves teaching three classes, preparing lectures, providing feedback to students, and my schedule runs from 9 AM to 8:15 PM. My most notable professional achievement so far is creating a permanent graphic design exhibition at the Korea Museum in Cartagena, Colombia. This exhibition is based on culture and historical preservation of Cartagena City, and it's especially important because it was created for low-income students who don't have access to culture or preservation, or the means to visit important historical places. The physical exhibition opened in March 2024, and we also have a digital exhibition that launched in September 2024. After finishing my Bachelor's degree in 2019, I completed my MFA (Master of Fine Arts) from UT Arlington in 2024 because I wanted to become a professor and help students learn graphic design. Because of the needs I saw at Tarleton, particularly working with students on the spectrum, I decided to go back to grad school and I'm currently doing a Master's in Education. My research is based on how to teach graphic design to students with special educational needs. I wasn't looking for this second master's, but the desire to help these students achieve their goals is what moved me to pursue it. I feel like I'm developing myself and reaching my goals while helping them reach theirs.