Meet a Colleague: Emmaline Nelsen Emmaline Nelsen is a graphic designer in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.

W&L News Office
January 25, 2023

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I am going on a year at W&L; I’ve been here about 10 months now.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
The people! I have made so many new friends here through all different departments. After finishing my master’s degree remotely, I have loved being able to meet people again.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
Probably the Center for Global Learning — I love high tea.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up north of Lexington in beautiful Rockingham County, Virginia (aka the Turkey Capital).

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
I moved to Scotland after I graduated college to earn my MFA. It turned into a crazy two years of traveling the U.K. and writing a dissertation on fatphobia in children’s book illustration, with an accompanying body positivity children’s book.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
I like keeping things interesting! When I am not crocheting or painting random Facebook Marketplace furniture, I play rugby up and down the coast.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
I’d love to go back to Scotland, but it can get very dark and cold there. Maybe further south in England, like The Cotswolds. However, it can be tough living abroad and never feeling like you belong, so I’d probably stick to Vermont or Maine. I know what kind of home I’d build though! An A-frame.

Q. Who most inspires you?
As a designer, I love looking at the work of others to get inspiration. I have a myriad of favorite female illustrators; I love Beatrix Potter and Mary Blair. In my personal life, I am very inspired by my friends, who are always pushing me to be the best version of myself.

Q. What book are you reading now?
I am currently reading “The Cloisters” by Katy Hays.

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
In anticipation of the new boygenius album, I have been listening to Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. I am also an unashamed Swifty, and am very excited to go to the Eras tour. While I write this, I am listening to “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack.

Q. What is the website you visit most often?
Probably Pinterest; I find a lot of graphic design inspiration and crochet patterns there. But I am also very addicted to a random furniture auction website. I like imagining who owned this stuff, and bidding on stuff that I do not need or should want.

Q. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Julia Child. I am 6 feet 3 inches tall and Julia Child was 6 feet — I love that she challenged the idea of what it means to be a powerful woman.

Q. What is your desert island food?
Popcorn! It is so versatile — you can go chocolate and caramel, white cheddar, or movie theater style. Or even weirder! Go wasabi, dill pickle, crab or ginger ale flavored. All flavors I’ve tried … some are better than others. For a desert island, I’m thinking pineapple, sea salt or shrimp popcorn, and I am not mad at those possibilities.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I have an intense fear of lady bugs, and a deep hatred of birds.

Q. What is your secret talent?
I am secretly a balloon animal artisan.