FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Elizabeth Homan, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
ehoman@mica.edu
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished alumni, Jeremie D. Talbot ’98 (Illustration BFA) and Juliana Diaz ’04 (Graphic Design BFA), along with attorney Nicholas B. Hawkins and investment leader Heather McPherson, to its Board of Trustees. Together, they bring extensive experience in creative industries, technology, design leadership, intellectual property, investment management, and corporate and nonprofit governance, strengthening the College’s commitment to innovation and excellence in art and design education as MICA celebrates its bicentennial and enters its third century.
The Board of Trustees serves as MICA’s governing body, providing oversight and strategic guidance to ensure the College’s long-term health and success. Trustees help align the institution’s strategic direction, educational policies, finances, and operations with its mission and vision.
“Jeremie and Juliana represent the breadth of creative careers pursued by MICA graduates, bringing perspectives from two of the world’s most influential companies in animation and technology,” said Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D., president, MICA. “Together with Nicholas, whose expertise includes intellectual property, business law, and nonprofit governance, and Heather, whose leadership in investment management and philanthropy, they will help inform the College’s continued evolution and its preparation of future generations of artists and designers.”
Jeremie D. Talbot ’98 (Illustration BFA)
Talbot is a character supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios, where he has helped bring some of the most beloved animated films of the past two decades to life. His expertise in character modeling, technical direction, and visual storytelling has contributed to films that have captivated audiences worldwide.
As character supervisor on Onward and Finding Dory, Talbot oversaw the creation and development of characters central to each film’s storytelling. He also served as technical director for the Academy Award®-winning Coco, contributing to the film’s distinctive visual artistry. His credits also include Brave, Monsters University, Turning Red, and the animated short, Partly Cloudy.
Talbot’s work reflects a commitment to artistic excellence and technical innovation, combining creative vision with the collaborative problem-solving essential to contemporary animation. He has also shared his industry expertise through professional presentations and publications, including “Designing an Interaction with an Octopus,” presented at SIGGRAPH in 2016.
A 1998 graduate of MICA’s Illustration program, Talbot brings to the Board a perspective shaped by nearly three decades of experience at the intersection of art, storytelling, and emerging technologies.
Juliana Diaz ’04 (Graphic Design BFA)
Diaz is a product design lead at Apple® Inc., where she oversees design efforts for the company’s education software products. With more than 20 years of professional design experience, including more than 14 years at Apple®, Diaz has built a career focused on creating intuitive, accessible, and impactful digital experiences.
Since joining Apple®, Diaz has held leadership positions including senior user experience designer and design manager before assuming her current role as a product design lead in 2020. Her work has encompassed the iTunes Store®, content operations, and educational platforms, with expertise spanning user research, product strategy, design leadership, and user-centered problem-solving.
Before joining Apple®, Diaz served as a senior visual designer at Netflix, developing interactive experiences for the company’s consumer-facing website. She previously held design positions at Silverpoint and InPhonic and founded Designloom, a boutique design studio serving clients throughout the United States and Latin America.
A graduate of MICA’s Graphic Design program, Diaz also holds a degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Drawing on her Colombian heritage and international experience, she brings a global perspective to design, a commitment to inclusive leadership, and a passion for using technology to improve how people learn and interact.
Nicholas B. Hawkins
Hawkins is a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP in Baltimore, where he advises clients on intellectual property management, private equity and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance. His legal career spans intellectual property protection, business transactions, and strategic counsel to organizations across a range of industries.
Before joining Womble Bond Dickinson in 2019, Hawkins served as assistant counsel at Under Armour®, where he worked closely with product development and marketing teams on intellectual property matters, brand protection, and advertising compliance. He managed domestic and international trademark issues, developed strategies to protect the company’s intellectual property, and advised on high-profile collaborations involving celebrities, athletes, and fashion brands. His work included intellectual property matters related to the company’s collaborations with A$AP Rocky and Palm Angels, as well as the development of compliance policies for influencer and endorser relationships.
In addition to his legal practice, Hawkins has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to supporting the arts and strengthening nonprofit organizations. He serves as treasurer and chair of the Investment Committee for Mid Atlantic Arts and previously served on the Board of Directors of Baltimore Clayworks. He also held leadership roles with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, including interim executive director and Art Law Clinic director, helping connect artists with legal resources and professional guidance.
Hawkins is an advisory board member of the Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Loyola University Maryland and a past president of the University of Baltimore School of Law Alumni Association. He has also served as treasurer of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section and is active in the International Trademark Association.
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for his work in corporate law, intellectual property law, mergers and acquisitions law, and venture capital law, Hawkins brings to the Board a combination of legal expertise, business insight, and a commitment to the creative community.
Heather McPherson
McPherson is an associate portfolio manager for the US Large-Cap Equity Income Strategy in the Global Equity Division at T. Rowe Price, where she brings more than two decades of investment management experience. She is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and serves on the Investment Advisory Committees for the firm's U.S. Large-Cap Equity Income, Global Natural Resources Equity, U.S. Large-Cap Value Equity, U.S. Value Equity, and U.S. Mid-Cap Value Equity Strategies.
In addition to her investment leadership, McPherson serves as chair of the T. Rowe Price Foundation, reflecting a commitment to philanthropy, community investment, and nonprofit leadership. Her experience across financial management and charitable initiatives brings a valuable perspective to institutional stewardship and long-term strategic planning.
McPherson began her investment career in 2001 and joined T. Rowe Price in 2002, initially working in the firm's U.S. Equity Division. Before joining T. Rowe Price, she was a summer intern at Salomon Smith Barney, where she covered the storage area networking industry. She also served as vice president of finance and administration at Putnam Lovell Securities, Inc.
McPherson earned a Bachelor of Science in managerial economics from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
With extensive experience in investment strategy, financial oversight, and philanthropic leadership, McPherson brings to MICA's Board a perspective that will support the College's financial stewardship, institutional resilience, and long-term sustainability as it enters its third century.
Strengthening MICA’s Future
The appointments of Talbot, Diaz, Hawkins, and McPherson underscore MICA’s commitment to engaging accomplished leaders whose professional experience reflects the evolving landscape of art, design, creative practice, business, and institutional governance.
As MICA marks 200 years of art and design education, their collective expertise in animation, digital product development, creative technology, intellectual property, investment management, philanthropy, and strategic leadership will provide valuable insight as the College advances its mission, expands opportunities for students, strengthens its financial foundation, and deepens its connections to the global creative economy.
# # #
ABOUT MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART (MICA)
Founded in 1826 and celebrating 200 years, the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is a premier epicenter of art and design education and the nation’s oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design.
Based in Baltimore, MICA is entering its third century with renewed purpose and a deep commitment to its city and the wider world. MICA delivers an education that combines a rigorous fine arts foundation with design, liberal arts, and real-world experience—preparing students to apply art and design to real-world challenges.
Through creative entrepreneurship, professional practice, and community and industry partnerships, MICA graduates build sustainable careers, launch ventures, and contribute meaningfully to the creative economy.
To learn more about MICA’s Bicentennial, visit mica.edu/200.
###