Ryan Post is graduating in May with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art, but he didn’t begin his higher education at Indiana University Northwest. Instead, Post bounced around a few different art institutes before realizing he wasn’t getting as much value for his money.

“I was essentially spending more money for no reason at these schools,” Post said. He was drawn to IU Northwest because of the affordability, but stayed for the exceptional facilities and knowledgeable faculty. He was one of the first students to attend classes in the school’s newest state-of-the-art facility, the Arts & Sciences Building.

Over the last few years, Post has focused on illustration and printmaking under the wing of professors who are practicing artists themselves.

“They all have their own field of work they do outside of teaching,” Post said. “That definitely helps in the classroom. I wouldn’t have thought being a practicing artist was plausible or sustainable.”

With a new goal of making a name for himself as a conceptual artist, Post said Jennifer Greenburg emerged as a mentor. The Associate Professor of Fine Arts helped him create a LinkedIn profile and gave him pointers on searching for jobs after graduation.

Post sees nearly endless possibilities after graduation. While he’s looking at doing conceptual art for game shows, movies, and other media, he knows he isn’t limited to any one career path. “The possibilities are very open. It’s not a scary thing—it’s kind of exciting,” he said.

But like so many other students, Post’s journey wasn’t without obstacles. For the duration of his time at the campus, Post worked upwards of 30 hours each week as a barista. He said life gets hectic, especially as finals loom, but it’s been helpful to have understanding professors on his side.

“My professors have been very helpful, being aware [of my work schedule] without being enabling of laziness,” he said. “They would keep me on track, but they know I have a life as well.”

Years of staying on track have certainly paid off for Post. “Ryan Post has developed a unique style of representation and has used his talents to create satirical pieces about American life during the time of COVID-19. I conclude that his work is excellent in addition to being culturally important and a great achievement,” Jennifer Greenburg said about her student.

                                                       Original artwork by Ryan Post: Social Distance

After attending art institute after art institute and finally landing on IU Northwest, Post understands how important it is to take advantage of education while you have the chance. It’s not enough to passively sit in a classroom or hope that your 9 a.m. class will be cancelled.

“Get the most out of it while you’re there,” he said. “Remember that you’re paying for it, and value the classes you have instead of hoping it gets canceled.”

With a strong sense of drive, solid mentorship, and a slew of possibilities, this Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate is ready to take on the art world.