This year, Mercyhurst welcomed an impressive 27 faculty members as new Lakers. Among them is Lauren Esper, who joins the Department of Marketing and Brand Management as a full-time graphic designer.

Esper is no stranger to the Erie area; she is a graduate of Girard High School and just graduated this past May from Edinboro University with her Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in graphic and interactive design. She is now pursuing her Masters’s in Organizational Leadership through Mercyhurst while also working full-time.

“I actually accepted this position the day before I graduated!” Esper said. Although she is an alum of Edinboro, Esper has her reasons for calling Mercyhurst home. “I chose to come to Mercyhurst because when looking for employment after college I wanted to stay local to the Erie area,” Esper said. “I worked as an intern at Edinboro University’s marketing department my senior year and really liked the design work I was producing for the university. So when I saw this job posted for doing design work in a university setting and it being local for me it was a win-win!”Even though she’s only been here for a few months, Esper couldn’t be any happier. “I love the department I work in and the work I am producing, all my coworkers in it, and how welcoming everyone is not only in my department but in others too,” she said.

Esper is incredibly passionate about her career as a graphic designer. She has an extensive portfolio ranging from postcard designs and various logos and signage for various projects at Edinboro University.“I love making art and having my products not only represent the place I am assisting with but, my work also represents me and my personality, and I love being apart of something bigger than myself” said Esper.

As a graphic designer, Esper will be helping to make Mercyhurst look as fresh and fantastical as ever. If you happen to come across her, be sure to say hello and give her a warm Mercyhurst welcome.