Meet Leah

Name: Leah Dennehy

Class of: 2025

Program: Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts

"Scholarships make a difference to me because I can dedicate more time and energy to learning ..."


What do you like most about SNHU?

I love the real-life experience I get when learning at SNHU! The classes make me feel like I'm preparing for a real job, not just gathering information. 

How do the scholarships and financial aid you receive make it possible for you to attend SNHU? Specifically, how have scholarships made a difference?

Scholarships make a difference to me because I can dedicate more time and energy to learning, rather than stressing about working multiple jobs on top of going to school full-time. 

What would you say to those who donate to support student scholarships?

Thank you for your generosity! Your support helps students work harder to pursue what they're passionate about. 

Why did you choose Southern New Hampshire University?

I chose SNHU because of the real-life experience I get with my program. I've already worked with a client for a real event, giving me experience I wouldn't get in a standard classroom. 

What was your hope in receiving a college education? How has your experience been different than what you’d imagined?

My hope in receiving a college education is to master graphic design (my major), so that I can pursue a career in it. There is a lot more self-taught learning than I expected, but it's a good way to learn, and there are always people to help if you get too stuck. 

What inspired you to choose your area of study? What is your dream job?

I enjoy creativity, communication, and learning new technology ... so graphic design seemed like the perfect fit for me! My dream job is to work as a graphic designer, concept artist or art director to help bring peoples' ideas to life.

Who at SNHU (professor, coach, advisor, etc.) has been the biggest influence on your college experience? What lessons did that person teach you?

My graphic design professor, Tracy Dow, has been a big influence on my SNHU experience. She is extremely knowledgeable in the field, and evidently passionate about teaching students. When working on projects she provides great critiques and feedbacks to really help me grow as a graphic designer. 

In what ways have you been involved at SNHU (campus organizations, job, sports, etc.)?

This past year, I was involved in the SNHU Concert Band. I loved coming together with people who have a passion for music and using our individual skills to play beautiful pieces. I was involved in my high school's band since I was in fifth grade, so being able to continue with this has been really amazing.

What do you find most challenging? How do you deal with this?

I went to college after living in a small town my whole life, so adjusting to a completely new environment in a new state was most challenging to me. Though challenging at first, I put myself out there and met some great friends who made that transition a whole lot easier.

What are you proudest of?

At SNHU, I'm proudest of working with my classmates to create media for the SNHU Humanities Festival! We worked with both graphic design and communication students to advertise with flyers/posters, create cool stickers for people to remember the event by, and more! It was amazing to see all of our hard work contribute to a successful event. 

In what ways do you want/hope to stay involved as an SNHU graduate?

As a graduate, I hope that I'll be able to contribute to scholarships to help students like me pursue their passions at SNHU. The generosity of current scholarship donors has helped me, and I want to continue that support for future students.

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