Prof to retire from graphic art department
The idea of retirement brings smiles to some people and frowns to others. For Graphic Communications Director and Professor Lyn McDonald, it's all smiles.
McDonald has spent 21 years at OCCC. After her departure in May, she looks forward to sleeping in and playing a lot of Texas Hold 'Em poker.
When McDonald first came to OCCC, she said she was much like her students, self-doubting and shy.
She said her own personal growth was fueled by watching the success of her students.
McDonald cites her students' success as her reason for continuing far beyond her initial short-term intention.
“They want to do something for themselves but they lack confidence,” she said. “They leave here, get good jobs and start a whole new life for themselves,”
McDonald often hears from them and develops friendships. “The most profound success stories are the women,” she said.
McDonald proclaims herself as primarily a print person.
Unhappy with her own education in Commercial Art at the University of Central Oklahoma, she said, she effected changes at OCCC to teach people what they actually need to know to get a job.
“There's a huge difference between commercial art and fine art,” McDonald said. “I got my degree at UCO which was worthless. I learned the business through on-the-job training, which is one of the reasons I taught.”
McDonald is proud of the impact she had on OCCC's Graphic Communications department over the last 21 years. “It's much more professional and we have a good reputation in the industry.”
Under McDonald's direction, the program has grown to include options in Multimedia, Print and Photography.
The department also is much more computerized and digital, where it had been drafting tables and print only, McDonald said.
The most important lesson she learned, “When you're afraid, embrace the fear and just do it," she said. Her biggest personal fear? She said: “that I would get up in front of all these peopleÉ that my mind would go blank.”
She said it happens to people all the time and is no big deal. “It's like all the rest of our fears—smoke and mirrors—you walk through them and there is nothing of substance.”
McDonald has approached teaching with tough love, her students said.
Cathy Bowman, Mac intosh Lab assistant, recalls McDonald bringing students to tears with words such as, “That's crap, do it again.”
Despite that, many of her students have come back to thank her personally.
“I'm committed to doing my job right, which is to show them what they have to do to actually perform and make a living at it,” McDonald said.
Surprising to some, Mc-Donald doesn't care about competing for awards.
“I don't push my students to compete in contests. It's not something I value. I don't care what other people think. I don't need someone else's recognition for my self worth.
“My students do win awards. My students win the competition for the AIDS walk every year. They did a really nice job for the Oklahoma Health Department Website awards.
“I'm not an awards kind of person. We do stuff for the community and for the college.”
Given the opportunity, McDonald said, she would tell the OCCC students and faculty she is grateful for her time here.
“I have a commitment that if I ever win the lottery, $5 million will go to the college,” McDonald said.
Along with Donna Bren-nan, her partner of 26 years, McDonald owns a business called The Graphic Connection.
They have minimized their client list in preparation of her retirement.
“I'm ready to not have any pressure. I've been working since I was 10 or 12 years old,” McDonald said.
Orrin Cromack, who took a Photoshop class from McDonald, said, “Her reign was good for the students and she will be sorely missed.”
Staff Writer Michelle HalfSpring can be reached at onlineeditor@occc.edu.
