College of Liberal Arts
Alumni Spotlight: Naomi Hutchquist
Kat Reichert, CLA Public Information OfficeSeptember 5, 2025cla-pio@alaska.edu
At CLA, we celebrate the creative ways our alumni carry their education into the world. For Naomi Hutchquist (BFA β19, Digital Art, Printmaking, and Metalsmithing), that path has been nothing short of dynamic. Just months after graduation, she stepped into an internship with and quickly discovered how her artistic skills could help communicate science in new and compelling ways. Six years later, she is a Data Visualization Specialist, blending animation, game design, and immersive media to make research accessible to communities across ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅. From programming augmented reality exhibits that let children see the world through βbee visionβ to designing beloved community festival art, Naomiβs work shows how creativity can spark curiosity, connection, and awe.
Youβve done some really exciting things since graduating in 2019. Can you walk us through your path from ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ to your current role at ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ EPSCoR? Whatβs your day-to-day like now?
I found my way to ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ EPSCoR just a few months after graduation by way of the ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ Summer Research academy. A fellow ASRA instructor and digital artist named Hannah Foss had heard that EPSCoR was looking for an intern specializing in animation, game design, and aerial drone videography. Those being three things I was especially interested in, I jumped at the opportunity and applied as soon as possible. Over the past six years, Iβve worked my way from intern to temporary employee, then into a full staff position as Data Visualization Specialist in the new Interface of Change project.
My day-to-day changes depending on the project or event I am working on, but I work with a small data visualization team to create outreach products to describe research being conducted under the Interface of Change project. These products could be videos, infographics, apps and VR games, or 360 degree visuals to be projected into our 16β inflatable science dome theater. We also try to join as many community events as possible throughout the year to show off our visualizations, such as ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ day at the Tanana Valley State Fair and Pearl Creek STEAM night.
What drew you to data visualization, and how do you approach that work as an artist?
I was immediately drawn to the idea of using my creative skills to describe science concepts that may otherwise be difficult to understand. I love the unique challenge of having a specific communication goal in mind, then finding the best, most visually appealing way to achieve it.
One of the first projects I worked on as an intern with the data visualization specialist at the time, Cassidy Philips, was a 2D animation describing hyperspectral imaging, which is a complicated subject for most people! The animation turned out to be very popular with over nine thousand views on YouTube and a feature by the National Science Foundation. I love the opportunity to learn about the science concepts myself first, to be able to describe them visually to others.
Your role at EPSCoR brings together people from very different fields: art, science, research. What does that kind of collaboration actually look like in practice, and has it changed the way you think about your own creative work?
The opportunity to collaborate with other artists, scientists, and researchers has really broadened my perspective of what is possible. When many people are working together toward the same goal, they can get much farther and accomplish so much more than one individual alone. It sounds cliche, but it's really true. For some time, I was working by myself as Data Visualization Specialist, and it was incredibly difficult to come up with project ideas, judge whether my own work was satisfactory, and remain productive. But working with a small team has been a fantastic experience where we can bounce ideas off each other, help one another troubleshoot problems, and come up with interesting ideas together for new projects. It has also made me realize that people are not really that different even when they have different titles. A person can be many things at once; one can be both an artist and a scientist. At the root, they all require curiosity, and a desire to contribute some kind of knowledge or way of understanding.
Whatβs a project youβve been part of since graduating that youβre especially proud of or thatβs stayed with you in some way?
The most exciting project for me is one I am currently working on, and it wonβt be ready until 2026. It is a project titled Learning Through Awe, it is a NSF funded project that brings together artists and creatives at ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The project will be a traveling STEAM exhibit that will visit several libraries across ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ and bring children and their families a unique perspective on ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ wildflowers and their pollinators. The idea is to promote nature-connectedness and explore the role of awe and related emotions in learning through open-ended activities. The exhibit will feature giant flowers and interactive, multisensory elements to elicit those emotions, with my contribution being the programming of augmented reality interactive components, like a giant bee head that will show the user what βbee visionβ might look like, and the 3D modeling and animation of the digital visuals.
Iβm so excited to be a part of this project because it straddles the art/science line, the subject matter focuses on some of my favorite ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ flowers, and I get to learn more about the pollinators that visit them. Iβm also excited to push my skills in computer programming further, as this will be the most complex augmented reality project I have taken on so far. So keep an eye out at a library near you!
Youβve been part of the Fairbanks creative community for a long time. How has living and working here influenced the kind of work you do or the way you think about your work?
In part, I chose my BFA concentrations due to where there were the fewest artists in the studios. They were of course mediums that I was interested in, but I also really enjoyed the smaller class sizes of Computer Art with Miho Aoki and Printmaking with David Mollet which gave me more one-on-one time with the professors and more opportunity to interact with my fellow students. I consider myself a pretty digitally-minded person, but growing up in ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ has also given me a love of nature and I love representing that in my work.
Youβve been involved in a range of community-centered creative projects, from KUAC to the Midnight Sun Festival. What motivates you to keep giving back through your art?
It seems there is always a need for someone with some graphic design skills who knows their way around a raster or vector program. Since I find it quite enjoyable to create digital art, I am happy to volunteer my services to wonderful community organizations like KUAC or the Learning Inside Out Network. Designing the tee-shirt art for the Midnight Sun Festival has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I live downtown, love the festival, and was just thrilled to see my design made it onto the shirts that everyone was wearing this year. I cannot recommend highly enough that other artists submit their designs, it was such a fun sight to see.
What advice would you give to current liberal arts students who are hoping to carve out meaningful career paths after graduation?
I remember stressing so hard while pursuing my degree that I would not be able to find a job, or that I would not be able to support myself through my art after graduation. The stress even caused me to take a few years off to be sure it was something I really wanted to do. But I am so glad I came back to it when I was ready to focus, because the people I met through the Art Department, and the opportunities that were created through ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ were absolutely worth the time and effort. The connections with fellow artists, both professors and students, was invaluable, and the atmosphere of the studio is truly irreplaceable. I also recommend taking advantage of all the unique opportunities available just for undergraduate students! From funding for projects, to traveling for conferences, or just even just the free food at networking events, get it!
Where do you see yourself five years from now? Are there any dream projects or big ideas youβre hoping to pursue next?
My next dream project is designing and building my dream home downtown for my family, complete with my own art studio and plenty of space to create!
Naomiβs story reminds us how a Liberal Arts education can grow far beyond the classroom. By uniting art and science, she has built a career rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and service to community. Whether sheβs animating complex research, designing for local nonprofits, or dreaming up interactive installations, her journey demonstrates how passion paired with opportunity can lead to meaningful impact.
Stories like Naomiβs are made possible through the support of our community. At ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅, students in the Arts receive not only a rigorous education, but also mentorship, funding opportunities, and hands-on experiences that open doors long after graduation. If you believe in the power of creativity to transform lives and communities, we invite you to consider a gift to the ΣΠΑΟΊΠΧΣΚΣΖ΅ Department of Art. Your contribution helps us sustain vibrant studio spaces, provide scholarships, and create opportunities for the next generation of artists to explore, experiment, and thrive.
Our community shines because of its people. If you know a CLA student, alum, faculty, or staff member whose story deserves the spotlight, let us know. Weβd love to celebrate them!
