Sandra Maxa is Director of the Graphic Design Master of Arts program and teaches design theory, process, and typography. Additionally, she teaches and develops collaborative studio projects with artists, illustrators and community partners. In 2015, she was awarded the MICA Trustee Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching.

She is partner at Q Collective, a multi-disciplinary studio that creates identity and interactive projects, books and exhibitions for (mostly) nonprofit clients. She has co-written and designed two books on typography and the 7th edition of Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. She holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor's degree in Art-Graphic Design from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research investigates the connection between mapping, narrative and culture.