Lilianna Damian
Creativity, Confidence, and Community: Lilianna Damian’s Story
Lilianna Damian is a 2026 graduate of Marywood University with a degree in Graphic Design. Today, she works as a graphic designer with the Scranton Fringe, where she combines her design skills with her passion for creativity, community, and the arts. Her journey at Marywood helped her grow not only as a designer, but also as a person, giving her the confidence to share her ideas and pursue opportunities outside of her comfort zone.
Lilianna initially chose Marywood because of its close proximity to home and its small student population. She wanted to attend a university where students and professors could build close, personal relationships. After seeing the strong reputation of the design program, she decided to visit campus. “When I took a tour I fell in love,” she says. She remembers seeing “the sticky notes from the freshman classes on the wall” and having a memorable conversation with Sue Jenkins, who would later become one of the most influential people during her time at Marywood.
For Lilianna, Sue Jenkins was more than an academic advisor. “She is amazing, she was my academic advisor but she was also my mentor and someone I would go to for school related or career questions,” Lilianna says. She appreciated how personal Sue made the experience and how she always made Lilianna feel heard. “I also enjoyed the cat pictures and memes from time to time,” she adds with a smile.
One of Lilianna’s proudest professional accomplishments has been her work with the Scranton Fringe Festival. She initially joined the organization as an intern alongside her fellow classmate Grace DiNella. “I started out as an intern with my fellow classmate Grace DiNella, very scared,” she says. Even the phone interview was nerve wracking, but Lilianna believed that she and Grace had the skills to contribute. That confidence proved worthwhile, as both eventually began working for the organization.
Since then, Lilianna has enjoyed watching the Scranton Fringe Festival continue to grow. “The festival has become bigger and bigger since we started, and I love watching it grow in community and supporters, as well as seeing all these new ideas for design and creativity bloom,” she says. Her experience has given her the opportunity to see how design can contribute to a growing arts community and help bring creative ideas to life.
Lilianna credits Marywood’s Graphic Design program with preparing her for the realities of the professional world by giving her experience across a wide range of creative disciplines. “It’s safe to say that I have taken plenty of classes in all different areas to prepare myself for the real world,” she says. She recognizes that today’s design careers require much more than the ability to create a poster. Courses in Motion Graphics, Typography, Package Design, and Screen Printing helped her develop a broad skill set.
“I am so happy that Marywood provides classes like Motion Graphics, Typography, Package Design, and even Screen Printing,” Lilianna says. “I feel well prepared and at least understand the ins and outs of most fine art skills because of this.”
Her Marywood experience also played an important role in her personal growth. When she first arrived at the University, Lilianna describes herself as quiet and unsure of herself and her work. “When I first started, I was very quiet and not as confident in myself or my work,” she says. She tended to keep to herself and socialize with only a small group of friends.
Over time, however, that began to change. Through her classes, she met some of her favorite people and became more comfortable speaking up. “The critiques and in class presentations helped me articulate my words and actually understand what I was speaking out,” she says. Looking back, she believes her professors and classmates played an important role in helping her become more confident and social.
Outside of the classroom, Lilianna joined Alpha Sigma Psi, an experience she initially never expected to have. “I was definitely not the type to join a sorority but my friends wanted me to and I gave into the peer pressure,” she says. Despite her initial hesitation, joining became one of the highlights of her college experience. She attended sisterhood events, served as an apparel chair, and participated in opportunities to give back to those in need. “It’s okay though, this was some of my best memories,” she says.
During Lilianna’s time at Marywood, she also witnessed significant changes across campus and within the University. She remembers beginning her college experience under a different president and seeing a number of changes take place during her years as a student. Her major moved from one building to another, the previous gallery was relocated, classrooms were moved around campus, and new developments began taking shape.
“I think the future is yet to come for Marywood’s growth,” Lilianna says. “I feel I left at a time of drastic change but I know there’s a plan and it’s a good one.”
As a recent graduate, Lilianna is continuing to explore what comes next in her professional journey. While she has not yet started a new independent project or initiative, she has been actively searching for new opportunities. “I have been searching job listings and have found a couple super exciting ones that I may take a crack at,” she says. For now, she is also looking forward to another year with the Scranton Fringe Festival. “I’m super excited to see what comes out of it!”
For current Marywood students, Lilianna’s advice is to step outside of their comfort zones and embrace the people and opportunities around them. “Be out there!” she says. She recognizes that college can be intimidating, but encourages students to remember that many of their peers are experiencing the same uncertainty.
“Make friends, a lot of them,” Lilianna advises. “You may lose some or keep some for the rest of your life.” Above all, she encourages students to talk to the people they meet and take advantage of the opportunity to connect with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives. “This is the place where you can meet all types of individuals,” she says.
Lilianna’s journey at Marywood reflects the transformative power of community, mentorship, and creative exploration. From a quiet freshman who was unsure of her work to a confident graphic designer contributing to the Scranton arts community, she has embraced opportunities that helped her discover her voice and grow into the designer and person she hoped to become.