Felicity Andrews ’24  
Major: Graphic design 
Internship: Creative design intern, Walt Disney Company 
Hometown: Modesto, California 
Clubs/Activities: AIGA Student Group; Department of Art, Media, Performance and Design representative, Associated Students of University of the Pacific; Calliope Art & Literary Magazine; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; TEDx UoPacific Marketing Team  

Felicity Andrews ’24 transferred to Pacific and found her creative home in Pacific’s graphic design program. With three internships under her belt already and a packed resume of campus involvement, Andrews is putting her skills to work as an intern at The Walt Disney Company where she contributes to global projects for the company. Andrews reflects on her Pacific experience, what led her to design and the advice she has for future creatives. 

Describe your internship and how your experiences at Pacific helped prepare you for this opportunity. 

I’m currently a creative design intern at The Walt Disney Company, supporting the Talent Acquisition Marketing team. Our team leads recruitment marketing efforts across Disney Enterprises, which means I have the exciting opportunity to contribute to projects spanning a wide range of Disney businesses—both domestically and internationally.  

Right now, I’m focused on supporting Disney Programs, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney on the Yard, a program for Historically Black College or University (HBCU) students. No two days are the same, which keeps things engaging. Depending on the needs of our partners, I’ve worked on everything from promotional merchandise and flyers to booth materials for conferences. Ultimately, our goal is to create compelling materials that inspire individuals to apply and be a part of the story at Disney.  

My experiences at Pacific did play a role in preparing me for this opportunity. The design program gave me my foundation in design principles and exposed me to a variety of mediums, which helped me become a well-rounded designer. Professors Lee and DeBoer were also instrumental in my growth, as they were the ones who helped shape me as a designer.  

Pacific’s program encouraged me to think critically, stay curious and take ownership of my growth as a designer, qualities that have been invaluable and will continue to shape my career.  

What made you choose Pacific?  

I chose Pacific because it offered the combination of being local and providing a good academic program in graphic design. Commuting from home was important when I transferred from Modesto Junior College. As I explored Pacific’s design program, I was drawn to the classes available and the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in two years, keeping me on track to graduate in four years.  

The beautiful campus and smaller student body also made it feel like a place where I could thrive, especially after coming from a small high school and spending my first two years of college online.  

Why did you choose your major?  

I chose graphic design because I’ve always been interested in the arts and creating. In junior high, I joined the yearbook team for my love of photography, but I stayed until my senior year of high school because I fell in love with design. Creating layouts and selecting typefaces quickly became my favorite part of the process. When I discovered I could turn that passion into a degree and a career, I knew it was the path I wanted to pursue and ran with it.  

Who has inspired you at Pacific?  

There are a handful of people who have impacted me at Pacific, but my friends in the design department have been a huge source of inspiration. Because the design department is a smaller program, I had the chance to work closely with my peers and professors DeBoer and Lee, receiving individual feedback and advice that helped me grow.  

One of my most impactful collaborations was helping to revive and co-lead the American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Group (AIGA), which the department supported, including funding our trip to the 2023 AIGA Design Conference in New York.  

The experiences I had with AIGA helped me feel more connected to the design community and shaped my passion for mentorship. I found myself guiding peers through portfolios, job applications and interviews. I realized how important it is to support new designers in today’s challenging industry.  

My time in the program also helped refine my design philosophy, which is centered on bringing joy to others through my work. That purpose will continue to guide me as I move forward in my career. 

What is your favorite memory about Pacific?  

There are so many treasured memories from my time at Pacific, it’s hard to pick just one! One of my favorites, though, is DeStress Fest and the late-night breakfast. In my final year at Pacific, I went with my friends, and it was such a fun way to unwind after the semester. We enjoyed the activities and staying up late eating breakfast together while reflecting on the fall semester which made for such a memorable time.  

What learning opportunities have you had outside the classroom?  

Before graduating from Pacific, I completed two design internships. At Blackwing, a pencil manufacturing company, I designed internal materials and at BGG Creative & BGG West, a creative agency, I worked on various client projects.  

Additionally, I worked as a graphic designer for ASUOP, where I designed flyers, social media content, stickers and even the postcard and blue Pacific posters now painted in the DeRosa University Center. These experiences gave me hands-on opportunities to apply what I was learning in the classroom in real-world settings.  

Right after graduating, I continued building on those experiences as a design intern at Gallo Winery, where I contributed to high-impact projects for major brands like La Marca, Barefoot and New Amsterdam.  

What advice would you give incoming graphic design students?  

Immerse yourself in the program and design community as much as you can. Take every opportunity to get involved: join AIGA, become a graphic designer for ASUOP, or contribute to Calliope. These experiences will connect you with a creative community and provide valuable insights for internships and job searches.  

Also, push yourself to go the extra mile on your design projects. Doing so will strengthen your portfolio and showcase your creativity. Always stay curious, embrace learning and strive for constant improvement; this tenacity will take you far.  

And most importantly, network. Networking may feel intimidating, but it’s incredibly important. Reach out to Pacific alumni on LinkedIn who studied graphic design or are in industries you’re interested in and learn about their journeys and what helped them succeed.  

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy college life! Spend time with friends, have fun and take breaks to recharge. It’s so important for staying inspired and avoiding burnout. 

When Monica Odeh graduated with her BFA in graphic design from University of the Pacific in 2019, she might not have believed you if you told her that just three years later, she’d be running her own business, even less so a coffee company.  

“I never thought about owning a coffee shop. I didn’t know anything about coffee,” she said. “But I know about branding and marketing.”  

The new coffee bar, Cuppajo Coffee, is quickly becoming a community favorite because of its tasty drinks and friendly atmosphere. The revamped space, originally Color Me Coffee, is tucked inside Tocco Divino Hair Salon on the Miracle Mile. It’s within walking distance from Pacific’s Stockton Campus.  

Odeh also works with clients full-time at the Stockton branding agency Revamp Signs, so Cuppajo is affirming her belief in what good design can mean for a business.  

“My favorite thing about having the coffee shop is having a living, breathing model of what I do in my day-to-day work,” said Odeh. “Having a business that I’ve created this branding scheme for that I can show my clients and have proof in the pudding that what I’m doing can work and bring their visions to life as well.”  

Graphic design opportunity

Odeh first heard about Tocco Divino’s coffee bar at a weekly meeting for local business professionals. The owner of the salon, Melissa Sherwood, announced she was selling the shop and asked if anyone was interested. Odeh presented the opportunity to her boss at Revamp Signs, Raziel Pelaez, and the pair decided to go into business together.  

“I took that as an opportunity to present to my boss because we had already been searching for a new idea of how we could implement our business and advertise our services other than doing work for clients,” said Odeh. “And we just fell in love with the space. Being here on the Miracle Mile was just a super cool opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.” 

Odeh has been visiting the Mile since she was a student at Pacific. She says locating her business on the iconic Pacific Avenue block is too good to be true.  

“The Miracle Mile is a very supportive community. The local business owners here have really created a space for the community to come and support small businesses,” she explained. “So, getting to be a part of that and getting to be close to the college now are things that really sold me on that location.” 

Pacific student experiences

Odeh credits Pacific not only for training her in graphic design but giving her the opportunity to apply her skills to real world experiences. As an ASuop graphic designer, she worked with clients. She also curated gallery exhibitions through the art department. She encourages Pacific students to seek out opportunities available to them and make strong relationships on campus.  

“I’ve found a very family-like community at Pacific, especially within my art department,” said Odeh. “So, I would say to take advantage of it and to make sure you’re immersing yourself into the campus as much as possible. It’s small, but it’s big in a lot of ways.”