Name: Bob Howard
Hometown: Warren, MA
Major: Graphic Design
Why did you choose Anna Maria College?
Accessibility was key for me. Anna Maria College was the only college in my region that offered a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Also, the fact that it is a small school was a huge plus, as I don’t like big crowds or big cities.
What are some of your favorite memories?
My first semester at Anna Maria College, Fall 2021…I loved the whole-class discussions we had in Issues of Diversity & Oppression. Professor Evangelina Gonzalez-Dufresne (who ended up being one of my favorite instructors) pushed us to get outside our comfort zones, and it ended up being a class that I feel should be a Gen-Ed requirement.
What was your greatest accomplishment during your time at Anna Maria?
Just being here. I kicked a lot of destructive habits in my journey to go back to school in my mid-30s, and the fact that I’m going to have a 4-year degree at all—let alone a degree in a field I love—is a huge personal victory for me.
What will you miss the most about Anna Maria?
The academic environment. There’s so much less pressure in school than when you’re out in the world trying to make a living.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to find work in my field. That’s it, really. A livable wage doing the one career in this world that I have a true passion for, graphic design.
Any advice for the Class of 2027?
Act like you care; act like you’ve been there. Your education and GPA will shape the rest of your future. Whether you know it or not yet, you’re going to distinguish yourself simply by showing up and doing your work, because there will be a lot of people around you who aren’t doing either. Don’t come here just to hang out.
