Whitworth Welcomes Award-Winning Editor Taylor Maggiacomo as Flora Distinguished Visiting Journalist
Maggiacomo is an award-winning graphic editor and science illustrator for National Geographic magazine. She will deliver a presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hixson Union Building’s Crow’s Nest. The event is free and open to the public.
Erica Salkin, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and associate professor of communication studies, invited Maggiacomo to the university. She says the past few years have shown just how much we are surrounded by complex scientific topics that are critically important to our day-to-day lives.
“Taylor has done extraordinary work for National Geographic and other publications to take those difficult concepts and make them clear and relevant to a broad audience,” Salkin says. “It’s such important work, and it is such beautiful work. I am excited to have our students learn from a creative, passionate media professional who has so seamlessly integrated her passions for science, art and communication.”
Maggiacomo creates engaging visual journalism and communicates complex scientific topics through infographics and data visualization. She says her goal is to make scientific research and visual journalism beautiful and approachable through images that engage and inform a variety of audiences.
“To me, I think science and art just naturally intersect,” Maggiacomo says. “They wouldn’t be able to survive without each other. The natural world is art itself. All the colors and the patterns and relationships are just remarkable.”
Maggiacomo’s work has been recognized by the Society of News Design, the Malofiej Infographics World Summit, and the Society of Publication Designers.
She holds a graduate certificate in natural science illustration from California State University, Monterey Bay, and a B.S. in biology and minor in art from Carnegie Mellon University.
Maggiacomo will also be speaking to 250 students from 10 area high schools during the university's high school journalism conference on Oct. 31.
The Flora Distinguished Visiting Journalist program is made possible by the Lou Flora Memorial Fund. The fund was established in 1997 to honor Lou Flora, a longtime friend of Whitworth University, and to recognize his commitment to rewarding excellence in communication among Whitworth students.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of more than 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Erica Salkin, associate dean of College of Arts & Sciences, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4704 or esalkin@whitworth.edu.
Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
