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Sean Payne Invited To Speak On National Panel For Black Designers

Sean Payne, Executive Director for PR and Marketing at Ogeechee Technical College, was invited to speak at the 2nd iteration of UCDA’s (University and College Designers Association) “Elevating Black Design Voices” digital panel discussion on Friday,
Sean Payne

Sean Payne, Executive Director for PR and Marketing at Ogeechee Technical College, was invited to speak at the 2nd iteration of UCDA’s (University and College Designers Association) “Elevating Black Design Voices” digital panel discussion on Friday, August 14.

“I have a longstanding relationship with UCDA and was humbled to be invited as a panelist for such an important discussion,” said Payne. “There are so many talented designers and marketing specialists of color in higher education. It was a pleasure to discuss how we can better support one another and the schools we work for.”

The discussion lasted over an hour and covered topics like mentorship, recruitment, and identity. Payne who sits on the OTC Racial Equity & Inclusion Committee said many of the topics covered on the panel are the same discussions they are having on the committee.

“It all comes down to how we better support our students of color at our institutions while also remaining authentic in our branding, messaging and marketing efforts. If we can continue to have these conversations in public spaces like this panel, we can all learn from one another and become better professionals and advocates for our staff and students,” said Payne.

The panel was part of a series that was kicked off by UCDA in an attempt to elevate black design voices. Other members of the discussion included moderator Pierre Bowins, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and panelists Anne Berry, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Cleveland State University; Justin Foster, Owner and Designer, Fostered Design; and Ashley Marshall, Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach, University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Payne has been a member of UCDA since 2012. A replay of the panel discussion can be found on UCDA’s website.