By Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator, CSC
CHADRON, Neb. – Riley Ellis has been hired as a Publications Specialist at Chadron State College, where he will manage the Print Shop and provide graphic design for the college’s marketing and communications efforts. Ellis’ first day is Jan. 5, filling a position vacated by Dewayne Gimeson, who retired in early January.
Ellis earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from CSC in 2019. He said returning to campus in a professional role has been especially meaningful.
“Having the opportunity to return to my alma mater in a professional setting is exciting,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a place that played such a big part in my education.”
Ellis has been a Marketing Specialist II and Graphic Artist at Western Nebraska Community College since Oct. 2021. In that role, he designed and produced a wide range of print and digital materials for college departments, recruitment efforts and community outreach. His work emphasizes brand consistency and storytelling, from brochures and viewbooks to posters and event materials, while overseeing projects from concept through final production.
“Graphic design has so many avenues, and I have found that design in higher ed is what speaks to me, because it’s designing with a purpose,” Ellis said. “The work I get to do has purpose in a way that it can help potential students, current students, and communities understand the mission of the school.”
A key part of Ellis’ role at CSC will include managing print production. He said the balance between design and print is essential to strong visual communication.
“The design and print sides of the job naturally complement each other because they are both hands-on, craft-driven processes,” Ellis said. “Understanding how something is printed, finished and handled informs better design decisions and results in stronger, more cohesive pieces.”
Before joining WNCC, Ellis worked as a graphic artist at Outlaw Printers, where he designed custom graphics for print materials, apparel and signage, and worked directly with clients. Earlier in his career, he gained experience as a student worker in CSC Athletics, designing game programs, posters, social media graphics and supporting game-day operations.
“Being a student in Chadron was awesome because I was part of a big school in a small town,” Ellis said. “My work study job in Athletics let me combine my love of sports with design, and gave me my first taste of having deadlines, handling multiple projects at one time and collaboration.”
Ellis said he is excited about collaborating with colleagues.
“I am looking forward to working with the people at the college and in the community to help bring ideas to life,” he said. “I’m excited to use my skillset in a purposeful way to help others and create some memorable things.”