2025 Design Awards Judges

For the UCDA 2025 Design Awards, we’ve assembled a panel of judges composed of designers, design educators, photographers, and illustrators. Your work will be peer-reviewed independently in each competition by others who understand the environments in which you create.

Check back soon for more information and additional judges. 

Design (Print & Digital) Competition Judges

Jessica Church
Brand Manager
University of Missouri (Mizzou)

Rick Griffith
Designer // Partner
Matter

Mike Metz
Creative Director
Metz Design Company

Marcelo Plioplis
Executive Creative Director
Colorado State University

Tiffany Pruden
Director, Brand Creative
Virginia Tech

Megan Rhee
Assistant Professor
University of Baltimore

Troy Abel
Associate Creative Director
Comcast NBCUniversal

Sammy Jean
UI/UX Designer, Web Developer

Ashley Perez
Interactive Art Director
Firefli

 

Video Competition Judge

Tim Russon
Video Producer
University of Lynchburg

 

Photography Competition Judges

McNair Evans
Photographer & Multimedia Producer
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts

Janice Checchio
Associate Creative Director, Photography
Boston University

 

Student Competition Judges

Johnathon Strube
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
East Tennessee State University

Sarah Martin
Associate Professor of Design
U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Nanovic Institute Faculty Fellow
University of Chicago