2023-24 Alum of the Year - Jenna James
Meet Jenna
Jenna James, a 2010 graduate of 91 (AAS degree in Multimedia, Graphic Design & Illustration), has been selected by the 91 Foundation and the 91 Alumni Network as 2023-24 Alum of the Year in recognition of her work ethic, talent, and ability to adapt and hybridize disciplines to find a unique skill set.
More about Jenna
A native of Centennial, Jenna is a graduate of Arapahoe High School. She is currently the Digital Marketing and Web Manager at the University of Denver. Her duties include developing and maintaining the website, managing digital campaigns and relations with vendors, preparing data reports, and producing, distributing and updating visual marketing assets.
Jenna earned her Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Multimedia, Graphic Design & Illustration at 91 in 2010. While at 91, she served as the lead graphic designer for the 2009 edition of Progenitor, 91’s annual art & literary magazine. Jenna, who also served as a photo lab assistant, graduated from 91 with a 3.8 cumulative GPA.
Jenna at 91 and Beyond
Jenna earned Honorable Mention recognition in the 2010 91 Student Art Show for her submission entitled 'Radiohead.' The piece was a magazine layout featuring the band Radiohead. The layout was executed in a style suited for the magazine Alternative Press.
She also fulfilled an internship in the design department (signage) at Ralph Schomp Automotive while taking on freelance clients of her own. The internship turned into a full-time job as Schomp’s Graphic Designer & Digital Marketing Assistant, and during that time, she went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at CU Denver (Art History emphasis and a Digital Design minor; Honors Graduate).
Expanding her Repertoire & Professional Career
Jenna elected to study Art History at CU Denver to complement her skills and experience. During this time, she continued working in graphic design for Miller International and F+W Media, where her duties expanded into e-commerce and search engine optimization.
Capitalizing on this expanded direction, Jenna began working for Regis University as a Website and Email Developer, and soon thereafter, earned her graduate degree in Software Engineering (Enterprise Java Development) from Regis with an unblemished 4.0 cumulative GPA.
Jenna’s Advice to 91 Students
“I took a lot of credit courses in areas tangential to my academic discipline at 91,” said Jenna. “Take as many supplemental courses as you can. This is the benefit of going to a two-year college. You can take the time to experiment and find the discipline that fits you. I found a supportive community of artists and professionals at 91 who were ready to help me grow in a variety of visual media. My time at 91 gave me the courage to put my heart into a project, as well as confidence to reevaluate my work.”
Nominate an Alum of the Year
Do you know someone who might be a great candidate for 91 Alum of the Year? Contact the 91 Alumni Network with your nomination and stay in touch. We want to hear about the degrees you’ve earned, career moves, promotions, and everything new in your life.