Hello, Everybody! My name is Elaina DePetro. I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, and I’ve always had a passion for the arts. For as long as I can remember, I have been fully involved in the arts through musical theater, but I always knew it would never be the career for me. On a whim, I enrolled in a graphic design course during high school. I fell in love and dropped everything to focus entirely on graphic design. Since then, my passion has been to pursue a career in graphic design.
In May of 2018, I graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a minor in Media Studies. Originally, my plan was to combine those two fields it improve social media management through improved graphic design. After graduation, I began work as the Legislative Assistant for Representative Harry Readshaw, a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. After his retirement in 2020 during the pandemic, I decided to help with the substitute teaching shortage in Pittsburgh and became a building substitute at Baldwin High School. Around the same time, I received a text from an old professor asking if I still had hopes of one day going to Graduate school. After a couple of discussions with those at West Virginia University and at Baldwin; there was a conclusion that I should get my Master’s in Art Education rather than Art History as I previously thought.
When I graduate in May of 2023, I hope to attain a position within a school teaching graphic design, photography, and art history. A position of this kind would help me combine my three passions within the arts. If I do not get this type of position within a school that would be okay because ultimately my goal is to inspire future young artists. When I was in elementary and middle school, I did not have the best art teachers. I was even once told by an art teacher that I would not excel in a field of the arts. That stays in the mind of a kid; as it has with me. When not teaching, I can most likely be found at Baldwin High School where I serve on the staff for the musical as well as volunteer as a member of the adult stage crew for the performing arts center. I love giving back to the district and the programs that have given so much to me over the years. For my freelance business, I mainly create logo packages, consult on social media, and design/produce custom items of all kinds. In addition, I have a small business doing senior and event photography. As a fun summer job, I can be seen at almost every Pittsburgh Pirates home game as an MLB Ballpark Ambassador.