Graduate Profile: Heidi Henke
Art isn’t the only thing that took shape at Alma College for Heidi Henke ’00. The experience also helped her become a well-rounded individual and artist.
Heidi Henke ’00
“The Alma environment not only nurtures education, but personal growth as well,” she says. “I was free to be myself and do the things I love. I had opportunities to be involved in many different activities and programs.”
Along with everything from Kiltie Marching Band to Student Congress, Henke delved into all that Alma has to offer, including an internship at The Art Institute of Chicago. Working in the graphic design department was an experience she says she’ll never forget.
“I was in the galleries all day, exposed to famous works that I read about in my art history class, and I made some great connections,” she says. “I became friends with a designer there who has been a mentor in my career. She helped me get into teaching and inspired me to eventually go out on my own as a freelance designer.”
In addition to teaching graphic design courses at Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend, Ind., Henke, who majored in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design, is a full-time freelance graphic designer under her business, Colorfly Design. She says she never would have achieved these dreams without the additional support from her Alma professors like Sandy Lopez-Isnardi, professor of art and design.
“I would not be where I am today in my career if it weren’t for their encouragement telling me that I could be an artist and that I was good at it,” she says. “They helped me to overcome my fears and gave me opportunities to express myself through art and graphic design. Now, I want to help my students in the same way.”
