Alumni & Family Engagement

Where once were bare walls, a playful, abstract mural now lives.

Painted earlier this summer, it runs throughout the Student Development office block in the Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center, greeting visitors as they arrive and traveling across the central collaborative gathering space shared by student organizations.

And it’s the work of one of Hope’s own: Ashley [Johnson] Mary ’07, a Minneapolis-based artist and graphic designer whose career has included clients like Google and Starbucks, and her own lines of cosmetics bags and journal notebooks in Target stores. The lively style of her art made her an ideal choice to help the space embody its philosophy, said Dr. Ellen Tanis ’90 Awad, who is associate dean of student life at Hope.

“The intent of this office is to bring people together and create energy and synergy, and we in Student Development felt like Ashley Mary art could do this for us,” Awad said.

When Mary graduated as a newly minted religion major in 2007, she didn’t envision the professional arc that she’s followed. She’d taken a small handful of studio art classes at Hope and enjoyed it, but originally worked at a church and pursued art as an interest. As the years passed, the interest became so serious that she went back to school part-time to complete a post-bachelor’s certificate — and later a master’s degree — in graphic/web design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

After earning the certificate, she was employed in the design industry, but she now has her own full-time studio practice pursuing her own projects as well as collaborations and commissions. Murals are a relatively recent interest since 2017, and one among many. Her studio work focuses on acrylic paintings and collage on paper, but her oeuvre includes artwork, prints, and product development like stationery, earrings and even socks.

“I said ‘yes’ to a lot of design avenues to figure out what I really loved,” she said. “It was a slow burn. I didn’t overnight start painting murals.”

Mary developed a concept for only two main walls in advance of coming to campus in June to paint Hope’s mural, but once she saw the breadth of the space she was inspired to expand on her original design, envisioning a way that additional wall space could be integrated.

The function of the space and the way that her work could play a role in it, she said, was itself intriguing to her as an artist. “What was really exciting was to contribute to a space where students gather and connect,” she said.

At the same time, she said, returning to her alma mater this summer was more than a commission.

“Having a relationship with the college was special,” she said. “For me, it felt sweet to create another version of my relationship to this space as a current version of myself.”

For more about Ashley Mary ’07 and her work, please visit ashleymary.com.

College is a unique time to explore and learn who you are and who you have the potential to become. That exploration doesn’t stop after graduation! Hope alumni are educated for lives of leadership and service and they live out the mission of the college in inspiring ways. This is evident in our alumni, a talented group of over 35,000 with varied interests, talents, and ambitions, all committed to making the world better in their own way. In an effort to support you as fearless innovators, the college recently introduced a new career development and lifelong learning platform for all of you!

Are you thinking about seeking employment in a new field? Has it been a while since you updated your résumé? Have you considered how your personal brand is connected to your career growth? Do you have an interview coming up that you need to prepare for? Looking for ideas about how to better manage your stress? Check out this new online program for alumni development and career support to participate in online courses that will support you as you continue to discern, prepare and pursue on your journey. Once you register, all courses can be accessed anytime. Registration takes less than a minute, and you can start and stop courses as you go. The system will keep track of what you have done. This valuable service has been paid for by The Alumni Association in order to provide it to you free of charge, please enjoy our gift to you!

Career Development Courses include:

• Finding the Right Career (you can even take the Strong Interest Inventory for free!)
• Your Personal Brand
• Résumé and Cover Letter
• Building Your Network
• Interview Preparation
• Mock Interviews
• After the Interview
• Finding the Right Company
• Getting the Job

Lifelong Learning Courses include:

• Leadership Development
• The Truth About Stress Management
• Unconscious Bias Training

Register today!