Dae McComas ’24 is passionate about the world around them. As an Illustration major, they take a nontraditional approach to their work, creating naturalistic oil paintings that fuse observational and conceptual themes.
During their junior year, when Moore students research and line up summer internships, McComas struggled to find professional opportunities that truly aligned with their goals. After searching for the right fit, they decided to pursue a Unique Experiential Learning Opportunity (UELO) and work one-on-one with a mentor.
In their search for the right advisor, McComas attended a “speed mentoring” event hosted by Moore’s Institutional Advancement team and the Locks Career Center. Enter Stephanie Weinger ’20, an Illustration graduate working as a courseware developer for FlightSafety International. Weinger also illustrated children’s books about science and the environment.
The pair bonded over their shared love of the natural world, and Weinger agreed to serve as McComas’ mentor for their UELO.
“When you mentor people, you can only hope they take your guidance and advice seriously. Dae was a pleasure to work with because they’re a self-starter,” Weinger said.
When McComas then landed another internship creating promotional materials for Whitesbog Preservation Trust, a historic farm in Browns Mills, NJ, they saw a chance to combine the experiences. Pulling inspiration from the plant life, insects, and lush landscapes at Whitesbog, McComas used their UELO to work on paintings for their senior thesis.
“When we figured out what got [Dae] excited, you could really see it. They would just light up,” Weinger said. “Seeing a student grow and find a project that evokes passion, fun and hard work was really cool.”
Through in-person meetings and video calls, Weinger helped McComas develop ideas, critiqued their work and gave them advice. For McComas, it was extremely helpful to work with someone who had lived knowledge and experience with Moore’s Illustration curriculum and professors, as well as the pressures of the senior thesis.
“There were moments that allowed me to realign myself with why I became an artist, because I was talking with someone who had similar experiences,” McComas said. “Some illustrators have an incredible world in their minds that they want to share. For [Weinger and me], it’s very much the environmental piece—we want to amplify this beautiful world we live in.”
The UELO program didn’t exist when Weinger attended Moore, but as a student, she had the exciting opportunity to see the Icelandic terrain, as well as puffins in their native environment, thanks to the Sis Grenald International Travel Fellowship.
Since then, she has sought out additional experiential adventures. As part of a recent science communications fellowship with Ocean Exploration Trust, Weinger embarked on a monthlong expedition in the Pacific Ocean last year. As the only fellow on the trip representing professional artists, Weinger took time to do a live video chat with Moore students while aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus. She currently works as a graphic designer for the Philadelphia Zoo, and she continues to give back to Moore students with her expertise.
“I’ve always loved the idea of mentorships. Working with someone who’s working in the real world and who knows exactly what it’s like is extremely helpful,” Weinger said. “For people like Dae and me, we’re still in the art community, but the additional academic interest can create a gap. I love helping students that feel the same way.”
McComas sees their relationship with Weinger as evidence of the connection and purpose art has the ability to create.
"Artists are speaking on behalf of communities, people, and values," McComas said. "We're meant to be a reflection of what's around us, and mentorship helps us grow in that way."
What is a UELO?
UELO stands for Unique Experiential Learning Opportunity, and it serves as an alternative or supplement to a traditional internship.
Moore’s Locks Career Center created the program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person and virtual internship opportunities were limited. The UELO program took off in the years that followed, giving students the chance to explore niche career paths and to work one-on-one with mentos of their choosing.
“Many times, students will come to our office and tell us about their dream internship experience. We work with them to see how close we can get to that vision,” said Shakeyia Kersey, director of the Locks Career Center.
Alumni exemplify the career options that await Moore students are they graduate. The Locks Career Center and the College’s Institutional Advancement team are always seeking graduates who want to be mentors.
If you want to learn more about becoming a UELO mentor, sign up for Connect Moore at connect.moore.edu, check out the alumni newsletter or reach out to Locks Career Center Director Shakeyia Kersey at skersey@moore.edu.
Top, left: Dae McComas '24. Top, right: Stephanie Weinger '20. Artwork courtesy of Stephanie Weinger '20 (top) and Dae McComas '24 (bottom).
