News Article

Professor Vickrey has been teaching at A-State for over 15 years. She is very involved with the American Advertising Federation and is the graphic design internship coordinator for the department of art.

Kim Boyd Vickrey

Place of birth?

Memphis, Tennessee

Family?

Mother, Sue; Father, Irby; Sister, Stefanie. Both of my parents are in the banking industry. My sister is a life long number cruncher in the insurance business. Although I wasn’t adopted, their left-brained, logical and numerical way of thinking certainly makes me wonder.

Why did you choose A-State?

I had a job offer from both a huge SEC school and Arkansas State University. It was the faculty in the A-State art department (as well as the Equine Center then under construction) that made my decision a no-brainer.

What music is playing in your car?

Country music. I lived and worked in Nashville and designed for the country music industry for several years. It was inevitable.

What makes a good professor?

Someone willing to continue to learn, grow and practice what they preach. “There’s no use walking to preach unless you’re preaching while you are walking.”—Dewitt Jones

What is your favorite podcast?

Dewitt Jones, Everyday Creativity

The television series I must TiVo...

Shark Tank. I should totally be swimming in the tank.

Who was your favorite teacher (and why)?

Robert Brinkerhoff (now at Rhode Island School of Art + Design) was my thesis advisor in graduate school. He pushed my pragmatic way of thinking way out of my comfort zone. The more imaginative I allowed myself to be, the better my work became.

The last book I read for fun was...

The Divergent Series

What’s the value of a university education?

Anyone can learn a skillset but only at a university can you learn to think.

If you could teach another field, which one and why?

I would teach empowerment, especially to young women. There’s not a major in that? Well there should be.

What is the one thing you wish you could teach everyone about your field?

That graphic design is more than making things look pretty. It’s the visual organization of images, words, and ideas to effectively convey information to an audience.

What are you working on right now?

An anti-cyber bullying campaign. Recently, one of my photographs was stolen and used in a hate Instagram account towards a local high school student. During the process of the investigation, I quickly realized nothing would/could be done by law enforcement or even the school. Not unless it’s too late.

My hobby is...

Traveling abroad. Let’s go!

If I could travel anywhere it would be...

to Africa with a 400mm 2.8 lens.

Four people I’d take to coffee...

Sue Bryce (photographer), Stefan Sagmeister (typographer), Oprah Winfrey and my great-grandfather. I only vaguely remember him and the stories I’ve heard about him are fascinating.

The best advice I ever received was...

That positive energy brings positive things to one’s life. I believe that in my very core.

A perfect day is...

Any day I get to ride my horse.

E-book or hardback?

Hardback, I already spend way too much time on my computer.

Beach or mountains?

The mountains. I had a photo shoot in the Cascades a few years ago, and thought, “what is that smell?!” It was air. That’s what it’s supposed to smell like.

Dinner or supper?

Supper. I’m a Southern girl.

I wish I could...

Eradicate all of the bullies in the world.

Only my friends know I...

I love hard, laugh hard and am fiercely loyal. I was told recently I was the 'real deal'. One of the best compliments I've ever received.

My favorite saying is...

"People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it." —Simon Sinek