Stephanie Nace :: Associate Professor :: snace@sc.edu
Stephanie Nace joined the Department of Art in 2002. She teaches both upper and lower level classes and supervises the design program.

Professor Nace received her BA in Graphic Design from Penn State and her MFA from Kent State in Visual Communication Design. In addition to teaching, Stephanie is the co-owner of froglegs studios.

Her most recent works include 3D paper structures, artist books, exhibition signage and public awareness posters.Her poster Diversity is Freedom was recently chosen by the AIGA World Day of Design committee.

Marius Valdes :: Assistant Professor :: valdesm@gwm.sc.edu

Marius Valdes was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. He received his BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia and his MFA in Visual Communication from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has shown his artwork in exhibitions in Colorado, Georgia, Las Angelas, South Carolina, and Virginia in addition to private and commercial commissions from across the United States. Valdes' commercial artwork has received awards from design publications including Print and Communication Arts, and professional organizations such as the Advertising Federation of Charleston, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Valdes currently lives in Columbia, SC where he is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the University of South Carolina. See more of his work at www.valdescreative.com and www.zoovaldes.com.

Jim Arendt :: Adjunct Instructor :: jijimarendt@hotmail.com
Arendt teaches illustration for the Graphic Design Program. He completed his MFA in painting from USC.

Nikki Villagomez :: Adjunct Instructor ::nikki@nikkivillagomez.com
Nikki Villagomez proudly joined the USC Department of Art in spring '05.

Nikki received her BFA in Graphic Design from Louisiana State University. After graduating from LSU she moved to New York City and began working as a junior
designer for Hearst Magazines. After being promoted twice within her two years at Hearst, she accepted a job as Promotion Designer at Women's Wear Daily (WWD), a Business to Business magazine owned by Fairchild Publications. She worked a year in this position before her husband's job moved them back to South Carolina where she grew up.

Upon moving back to South Carolina, Nikki started the South Carolina chapter of
the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the 49th chapter of AIGA. As the president of this organization, she was responsible for getting the speakers, organizing each monthly event and overseeing any creative that was produced. Nikki continues to work with fellow professor Stephanie Nace to ensure that the student AIGA group continues to grow not only at USC, but at the other colleges and universities around the state.

Currently, Nikki owns Nikki Villagomez Graphic Design. Her clients include Shandon Presbyterian Church, US Patriot, Van der Meer Tennis Center and WWD.