Diversity in Delaware

Kris Hyland Kolb has been a photographer since the 1970s, working in both traditional and digital media. She studied photography at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and took workshops through the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Tennessee). 

As an art teacher of 35 years, she developed photography classes for high school students at Marion Harding High School (Ohio), both dark room and digital.  She has also taught classes at Ohio Wesleyan University (visiting teacher) and to adults the Delaware County Cultural Arts Center (Arts Castle) and other mid-Ohio venues. 

She and her husband started a photography business called Double Exposure in the early 2000s. Their photography has won numerous awards and hangs in doctors’ offices and private collections throughout Ohio. .

Jeff Nilan received an MFA from Indiana University in 1999.  His work has been shown throughout the United States and is housed in multiple photography and artists’ book collections.  Growing up in Nebraska, Nilan’s art draws influence from the landscape and culture of the Midwest.  He is interested in the ways art reflects and shapes the mythology of a region.  Jeff resides in Delaware, Ohio and is Professor of Fine Arts at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he has taught for the past 15 years.   

My name is Devin Taylor I am a first generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Ohio Wesleyan University. I strive to be a well rounded individual personally and professionally, and most of my leadership experiences have been diversity based. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has always been something that is monumental in my life and of great importance to me. My diversity work started in High School at Laurel School as a Diversity Fellow. Diversity Fellows were in charge of creating and facilitating programs for the community. I continued to pursue DEI work after I graduated from Laurel as well. 

As an intersectional feminist, I was a part of the Sexuality and Gender Equality House at OWU and facilitated campus wide events through this membership. I did work through the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, the costume shop in the Theater Dept., the Fine Arts Dept., etc. In terms of my B.F.A., I immerse diverse elements into the intention behind my photography and some of my ceramic work/ reflect personal experiences into my pieces. During the spring of 2020, my senior year, I had a solo exhibition in the Werner Gallery in Edgar Hall at OWU. In my show, There is More in the Reflection, I was able to share my informed experiences through my black and white photography and a few ceramic sculptures. During my journey as an Upperclassmen at OWU, I won 2 awards. Paul W. Hawks Award is an award given to a student demonstrating excellence in photography and The Merit of Distinction Award is an award not given every year, only when a student has a piece that is deserving of it, and the piece that won showed the interesting complexities surrounding identity in the 21st century. After graduating I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but I have found a current purpose at my newly acquired job. 

I look forward to what is to come as the new Recruitment & Retention Coordinator in the LGBT Center at Case Western Reserve University. I have been here about 5 months now and it is a healing experience and a creative place to be. When I was in school, I wished there were programs designed to help queer students smoothly adjust to college and that transition period in life, and I am grateful to be in charge of the Queer Peer Mentoring Program here. This is one of my various responsibilities and is designed to guide first year students in navigating the complexities of their intro period into college, but also, it keeps them engaged in the Center. I am also working on Parent Space, for parents of gender diverse children, and a Queer Faculty and Staff Symposium coming soon. Through these programs and others produced by the center, students feel a sense of belonging and that greatly affects their overall experience at CWRU. I am dedicated to making sure students feel visible in the spaces they are a part of, that they feel empowered to make a difference in the world and face challenges head on. I want them to know that no matter what, they should stand strong in who they are, strive for growth and support others as well. 

In addition to growing the Center here at CWRU, I look forward to my own personal and professional growth. I plan to apply and attend Law School as a part of my endeavors and to continue to make a difference in the world. To sum up, I believe that representation matters a lot and I have been able to serve in that capacity in a variety of fields in my life thus far and I will continue to do that so I can pave the way for someone else like me.

Born in Puerto Rico, Jeremy began art studies at the Escuela Central de Artes Visuales. He holds a BFA in advertising and design from the Columbus College of Art and Design. He currently works as a VP, associate creative director at FCB Health in New York City.

Experienced creative problem solver with a demonstrated history in the design and advertising industry. Award-winning creative leader trusted by global brands in the pharmaceutical space to bring their stories to life through work that understands and connects with people. 

His mission is to use creative thinking and art to help brands engage emotionally with their audiences and gain market share in innovative ways. Creativity Moves Us Forward.