Steven Weeks has come full circle at Great Bay Community College.
He took classes at Great Bay as a high school student to get ahead on his college credits, then enrolled as a full-time student after graduating. He began his college career exploring his interest in business and finance and settled on graphic design. He earned his associate degree in graphic design in 2020.
Fueled by ambition and focus, he enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University and received his bachelor’s degree in graphic design and media arts in 2021 and a master’s in 2022. During his time as a student and after graduating, he gained experience with an internship at a local design company and doing freelance design work. His projects ranged from a sign for a national bank to a logo for a kayak-angler outfitter.
Now, after working in his field on a variety of projects for a range of clients, he has returned to Great Bay as an adjunct faculty member in the graphic design department. He is teaching his first class, Intro to Graphic Design, in the spring semester.
“It’s been awesome and I have to say it’s also been very surreal. I am not that much older than the students in the class,” said Weeks. “And now, my peers are the professors I used to see around campus when I was a student.”
In addition to his teaching position, Weeks also serves as Great Bay’s track and field coach.
Since earning a trio of academic degrees in three successive years, Weeks has built his career around freelance and contract design work, as well as a part-time job as a print associate for a major shipping company, giving him a range of professional experience. With his new position at Great Bay, he can add the title graphic design instructor to his resume.
In his class, he emphasizes design, photography, and print production with real-world outcomes and expectations.
“As a graphic designer, I think it helps students to structure the class as if you are working with a client on a project,” Weeks said. “I focus on building a good understanding of the relationship between clients and designers and preparing students for a realistic expectation of what the design world will be like and what it’s like to work with clients to create designs that are focused on communication and clarity.”
Returning to Great Bay as a member of the adjunct faculty has been gratifying – and fun.
“I have been met with nothing but smiles and praise,” Weeks said. “I have always said I want to give back, but it feels like Great Bay is giving back to me. I am having so much fun.”
