Published on August 3, 2026

Everywhere across Lake Land College’s campus, imbued in the striking aesthetic and welcoming style, is the creative trademark of Megan Nelson. As a designer in Lake Land’s marketing office, Megan is responsible for promoting the College through a wide range of materials, from small flyers to full building designs, all while maintaining a cohesive, distinct visual identity. But long before her bold visions and award-winning designs came to life, Megan was once a Lake Land student herself, with her future as a creative far from certain.

When Megan first enrolled at Lake Land in 2003, she had not yet decided on a major. She had been drawn to graphic design for years, but she found herself intimidated by the math courses required for the degree. All attempts to explore other major options, however, only led her back to her love for graphic design, and she eventually decided to face the mathematical hurdles to achieve her dream career.

“I just had to ask myself, ‘why am I dragging my feet when this is something I love?’” Megan said. “Once I finally started studying graphic design, I knew I was in the right place. And I got the best math grade I’ve ever had in the class I was most scared of. It was the first time I proved to myself that I can do hard things when I set my mind to them.”

As Megan settled into her graphic design studies, she also began to build a deep sense of belonging at Lake Land College, a feeling that would influence her future in ways she never imagined. After graduating from Lake Land in 2006, Megan quickly found her first job as a creative – right across campus in the College’s marketing office.

“I just loved this place so much I couldn’t leave,” Megan said with a laugh.

That love for Lake Land would stand the test of time. Megan began her career as an administrative assistant and advanced within the marketing team across many years of devotion to the College. After completing her bachelor’s degree while working full time, she accepted a promotion to graphic designer to focus even more on her passion for creating. Then, in 2026, her 20^th year working at the College, Megan’s artistic excellence and knack for visual messaging were recognized with a promotion to Senior Designer and Brand Coordinator.

“I had chances to look into jobs at other places. Nothing seemed to work out in my favor at the time, but it actually all did in the end,” Megan said. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Throughout her career as a graphic designer, Megan has been a driving force behind every creative project imaginable, with some of her favorite projects including the wall decals and murals throughout the Luther Student Center, the Foundation & Alumni Center and, most recently, the 100,000 square-foot Effingham Technology Center. Her work on the latter building even received national acclaim, with her “Laker Wings” design on the building’s first floor receiving a Gold Paragon from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR). But more than any trophy or accolade, what Megan finds most rewarding about her role is the chance to promote the mission of Lake Land College alongside all the treasured friends she’s made throughout the years.

“I just love helping people reach their audience,” Megan said. “The best feeling is when you take an idea that someone has, whether it’s vague or robust, and you put it into a design that uniquely gets their message across. I love how their faces light up and how excited they get when they see what they imagined brought to life.”

It’s that sense of community, the unique bond between people who care for one another and care for the work they’re doing, that stands out most to Megan as she reflects on her 20-year career at Lake Land. She notes that Lake Land College has given her so much, from her education to her career to some of her closest friends, and what’s inspired her work more than anything over the years is a determination to share what she’s found.

“I believe in what we’re selling, because education has changed my life and I know it can for others,” Megan said. “I think back to where I started, a meek student who took things so seriously I was afraid to do them, and I think about how I would reach her. If I could talk to her now, I’d let her know that good things will come, because I’ve found a good thing here.”