Brooke Foti Gemmell is a Design Strategist at Greenhouse Studios, an interdisciplinary research unit which aims to reframe the workflows of collaborative scholarly production. With a background in visual arts and design, Brooke is a creative director and visual problem-solver on Greenhouse Studios projects, and also works on the branding and outreach of Greenhouse Studios at-large, including social media and PR management. Though she considers herself a creative generalist, Brooke's specialized areas of making include UX/UI, communications design, video, and photography. She believes that her greater calling is in the development of the people around her, and is wholly energized by the successes of her mentees and peers alike. She holds an M.A. in Digital Media & Design and a B.F.A in Studio Arts, both from the University of Connecticut. Her graduate studies focused on digital culture, web & interactive media design and development, and digital media strategies for business.Through her roles and experiences, Brooke has continued to hone her expertise in the areas of creative direction, project management, and design thinking; she is particularly passionate about guiding her students and colleagues as they navigate the many possibilities ahead of them they that may not discover on their own. Applying life design methodologies to the professional mentorship of her students has quickly become a favorite area for Brooke; she strives to help her mentees prototype their futures through their tenure at the university.More than anything, Brooke enjoys making the work environment around her a safe and welcoming place. She loves to consider the details that can make a team feel like a family: thoughtful check-ins; remembering birthdays; a GIF from The Office when it's most needed. The thread that pulls her life together is pretty simple: she loves to be the glue that holds people and ideas together. Nothing makes her happier than dreaming up new possibilities with people who share her zest for the "what could be" way of thinking, and joyfully applies this mindset to every facet of her life. She is a proud mother, a nationally-ranked amateur equestrian, and an advocate for mental health with a focus on young equestrians.