معرفی
Leslie Haines is a Professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, where she teaches courses in visual communication, design, and advertising. She holds an MFA in graphic design from Marywood University (2008) and an MA in advertising design from Syracuse University (1992). Prior to joining MTSU, she served as academic director of graphic & web design and advertising programs at the Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville and built the award-winning BFA in Graphic Design program at Watkins College of Art, Design and Film.
Haines' research and creative work focuses on graphic design, editorial design, advertising, branding, and digital collage. She is internationally recognized for her "Animal Abecedary" series, which explores storytelling through letterpress type, original drawings, and texture. Her work has been exhibited globally including at Nashville International Airport, Cairns Queensland in Australia, and the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries, where her book now resides in the permanent collection. She has also created the "Real Wonder Women" series featuring portraits of breast cancer survivors.
Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent excellence in visual communication and design education, with publications spanning from 2014 to 2023. These works reflect her expertise in alphabet design, visual storytelling, and social impact art, with recurring themes of typographic innovation and narrative construction through visual media.
Major Awards and Recognition:
- 19 ADDY awards throughout her career
- American Advertising Federation "Teacher of the Year" for 7th District
- AEJMC Best of Design Competition Faculty Division awards (2021)
- Tennessee Arts Commission license plate design competition winner (2013)
- Dallas Society of Visual Communicators "Golden Apple Educator of the Year Award" (2006)
Haines has received multiple research grants including the MTSU Public Service Grant for "The Real Wonder Women" series ($1,400, 2017-2018), FRCAC Creative Project Grant ($5,520, 2014), and Instructional Technology Development Grant ($3,796, 2014). She frequently serves as a judge for ADDY competitions nationwide and has presented at conferences including the Tennessee Arts Commission Design Thinking Conference and Journalism Interactive Conference.
Her professional practice extends beyond academia, with over two decades of experience running her own advertising and design business serving local and national clients including musicians, hospitals, and retail establishments. Notable projects include advertising design for The Free Speech Center, artists like Kenny Chesney and Shawn Mendes, hat designs sold at Target stores nationwide, and the Tennessee state arts license plate.
