Art Degree Careers: Creative Paths at Adelphi University
Why an Art Degree is a Smart Career Move
Thinking about majoring in art? You’re not just signing up for painting and drawing classes—you’re building a toolkit of creative problem-solving skills that are in high demand across industries. An art degree from Adelphi University prepares you to think critically, innovate, and adapt—qualities that employers value in today’s fast-changing world.
Adelphi’s Department of Art and Art History offers a range of programs, including Studio Art, Graphic Design, Art and Design Education, and Art History. With small classes taught by working artists and designers, you’ll get personalized attention and real-world experience through internships, collaborative projects, and career preparation courses. As Professor Kellyann Monaghan puts it, “We function like a small art and design school within the larger University.”
Plus, you can complement your art studies with courses in psychology, business, or communications, giving you even more career flexibility. The possibilities are broader than you might think—Adelphi art alumni work as photographers, art directors, educators, art therapists, and more. “Students don’t have to be starving artists,” Monaghan says. “There are lots of different ways for them to make a living in the world.”
Real Alumni, Real Success Stories
Let’s meet a few Adelphi graduates who turned their creative passions into thriving careers:
Carl Timpone ’08: From Music Scenes to Hollywood
Carl Timpone graduated during a recession, but his creativity and independence—honed at Adelphi—helped him carve out a unique path. He started by sneaking backstage at concerts to photograph musicians, which led to creating album artwork. Today, he’s a partner at Visual Natives, an agency whose clients include record labels, fashion brands, and even legacy artists like Stevie Nicks and Def Leppard. “What I enjoy most about my career at this point is the ability to think quickly and creatively and the human connections that I make with the subjects,” Timpone says.
Elise Weber ’20: Inspiring the Next Generation
Elise Weber discovered her passion for landscape painting at Adelphi, and now she shares that love with her students at Island Trees High School. In addition to teaching a variety of art courses, she uses the art room to teach life lessons: “A lot of the time you’re teaching them that you can’t become emotionally attached to something until it’s completely finished. If something goes wrong, even if it’s out of their control, they have to be able to take that loss and just move forward.”
Elisabeth Clarke ’13: Designing for a Global Brand
Elisabeth Clarke learned to see design at the finest level of detail at Adelphi, hand-drawing fonts and examining every curve of a letter. After graduation, she took on the role of art director at Macy’s, where she works on diverse creative projects that drive company objectives and reinforce Macy’s as a style authority. “As an art director, it kind of feels like I’m playing a make-believe job because what I’m doing, it sometimes really does feel like I’m just having fun,” Clarke says.
Kathleen Mascia ’19: Healing Through Art
Kathleen Mascia knew she wanted to be an art therapist as early as ninth grade. A senior year class at Adelphi, Big Bad Painting, helped cement that aspiration by teaching her that “the product isn’t always what matters—it’s the process.” Now, as a child life specialist at Good Samaritan University Hospital, she uses art and play to help hospitalized kids understand what’s happening to them. “The best feeling is when I’m helping a child, let’s say, understand an IV by making a doll that they get to put a real IV into,” Mascia says.
Building a Supportive Creative Community
At Adelphi, you’re not just earning a degree—you’re joining a community that values and supports artists. The Department of Art and Art History offers hands-on learning, exhibition opportunities, and connections with professional organizations in New York City. “We create a wonderful sense of community,” Monaghan says. “I really feel like our alumni have this Adelphi spirit, this Adelphi pride in the art program—and a really wonderful network of alumni supporting each other.”
Whether you dream of launching your own agency, inspiring students, designing for global brands, or helping others heal through art, an art degree from Adelphi University can help you get there. Ready to explore your creative future? Learn more about Adelphi’s art programs and start your journey today.
Take the Next Step
Curious about what you can do with an art degree? Schedule a campus visit to see Adelphi’s art facilities and meet faculty. Or, if you’re ready to apply, submit your application and join a community where creativity thrives.
