Our goal is to cultivate a global understanding about art and visual culture through the acquisition of visual literacy, production techniques, and transferable skills. Our internationally active faculty aspire to produce culturally informed citizens. We value broadening the traditional art historical and design disciplines by offering diverse and innovative approaches to research and art making. Our top priority is to produce highly competent graduates with versatile creative proficiencies congruent with the marketplace.
About Us
Our graduates in studio, graphic design, and art history possess strong communication and creative problem-solving skills. Centered in the history of art & design, our programs are grounded in aesthetic and critical theory. With transferable skills in a variety of media, our talented students have the creative capacity to conceptualize, communicate, and activate their critical and creative agendas.
Erin O'Neill, GD 2020
Erin joined the Midnight Oil Group as a graphic designer following studying graphic design at OU. She develops brand identities for clients through thoughtful and engaging illustration for print and digital avenues. Her experience in OU's Graphic Design Program and designing for the Oakland Post gave her a platform to excel creatively post graduation.
Kerry Hansen, DES 2017
Kerry was recently employed with Sweet Swiss Confections as their graphic designer. She will be designing the graphics on the chocolates, such as a logo, that top desserts. Some of their clients include Disney, Snapchat, Las Vegas hotels and many high end restaurants across the USA. The company is located in Spokane, WA.
Heather Coppinger, SA 2016
Heather is establishing herself as a professional artist, and has exhibited paintings at the Charles H. Wright Museum and the Janice Charach Gallery; she has also completed several commissions. She says, "I am focusing on obtaining opportunities to expose my work, attending local arts events and most importantly- I am painting every day."
Kelley Foley, AH 2014
Gallery Manager of the Lee Gallery in Winchester, MA.
Jeremy Johnson, SA 2014
Jeremy is the Project Advisor for the Project Upward Bound College Prep Academy at Oakland University.
Jason Willis, SA 2013, specialization in New Media, Graphic Design minor
Interactive Media Specialist at the Communications and Marketing Department at Oakland University. Jason shoots and edits videos to promote events, advertising campaigns, academic programs, and student and alumni stories. He works with the social media team to create the content strategy for OU's social media channels (design graphics, shoot photos and video, edit video). He also works with the web team to redesign and redevelop core sections and content within OU's website (design infographics, landing pages). In addition, Jason owns a business working on branding, videography, and photography projects for corporate and non-profit clients.
Ashley Nicholson, SA 2012, specialization in New Media, Graphic Design minor
Content and Community Manager for MontAd, and Project and Content Manager for Digital Mark.
Jacquelin Kirouac, SA 2011, specialization in New Media
Project Coordinator at the Detroit Creative Corridor Center.
Kim Lambert SA 2011, specialization in New Media, Art History minor
New Media Specialist at JWDesign Architectural Studio, and Creative Director at Rocket-Tone Guitars.
Kaitlyn McCaulley Riopelle, AH 2011
Public Programs and Visitor Services Coordinator at Museum of the Grand Prairie, in Mahomet, Illinois.
Amanda Sansoterra, AH 2009
Director of the Emerging Artist Program for The Heidelberg Project, where she also works as an assistant to artist Tyree Guyton.
Amanda (Linska) Frederick, SA 2009, K-12 Art Ed, New Media specialization
Camielee Peasley, SA 2009
Art Educator, Southfield Christian High School, Southfield, Mich.
Bobbie Carey, SA 2008
Exhibition Assistant to Eric Fischl, curator of America: Now & Here Produced and Presented by Artrain USA
Carey worked directly with Eric Fischl on this exciting exhibition, which included the work of more than 75 confirmed artists, poets, playwrights, filmmakers and musicians. Notable artists included Chris Burden, David Byrne, Chuck Close, Ellen Gallagher, Nan Goldin, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Barbara Kruger, Bruce Nauman, Shiran Neshat, Susan Rothenberg, Andres Serrano, Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith and many others. Fischl stated, "this is an exhibition of work created since 9/11 that addresses the various and complicated questions of the American Identity." The exhibition opened in December 2009 in Miami, Fla., and traveled to more than 40 U.S. cities with Artrain's mobile museum.
Susan Dine, AH 2008
Graduate Student in Japanese Art History, University of Michigan Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow, 2017-2018
After graduating from OU, Dine entered the graduate program in art history at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2008, specializing in Japanese art, and went on to pursue her Ph.D. At UMMA. Taking courses from both art history and studio art at Oakland, practicing in an art-related company in the region, and working as an art history teaching assistant in the department, gave Dine not only a solid foundation of knowledge in her field of concentration but also interdisciplinary critical thinking, cross-cultural perspective and teaching skills. At Oakland, she received many honors from the college and the department, including Academic High Honors, the Dean's List, Mark Murphy Endowed Scholarship in Photography, and the Writing Excellence Award in Art and Art History.
Michael Dennie, SA 2008
Exhibition Coordinator, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Mich.
Dennie had an internship four years ago at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, when he was a studio art major. He was quickly promoted to program assistant, assisting in various BBAC departments, including accounting, development, membership, registration and programming. This past summer, he was hired as exhibition coordinator. In any given year, he is responsible for hundreds of artists and their works in a total of 25 exhibitions.
Jennifer Sutton, AH 2008
Graduate Student in Art Criticism and Writing, School of Visual Arts, New York, N.Y.
Sutton graduated from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in December 2010 with an M.F.A. She currently is working for the nonprofit art gallery, Art in General, with the curatorial department.
Nathaniel Whitcomb, SA 2006
Senior Interface Designer, Liggett Stashower, Cleveland, Ohio
Whitcomb works as the senior interface designer with the group creative director, providing concepts and design and production services within the digital space - websites, microsites, interactive ads including rich media, landing pages and HTML email. He creates and designs graphics, new web graphics, performs maintenance on sites, web properties and email campaigns, and conceptualizes website functionality, interaction, user interface and navigation.
Kathleen Hill, AH 2006
K-12 Art Educator, St. John Country Day School in Orange Park, Fla.
Hill's employers told her after she was hired at St. John Country Day School in Orange Park, Fla., that what impressed them was her background in art history. She absolutely loves her job and has added a lot of art history to the curriculum.
Oakland University Art, Art History and Design
Oakland University Art, Art History and Design