From Student to Storyteller: My Journey in Photography, a talk by 2025 Visual and Media Arts Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Emily Najera

Thursday, November 6, 2025
2:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Allendale Campus
Alumni, Students

The CLAS Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Program invites outstanding alumni from the departments of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences back to campus to share their post-graduation experiences with the GVSU community. Through the program, our distinguished alumni have the opportunity to share their insights about what constitutes strong academic preparation for students.

Mark your calendars for Emily Najera's upcoming visit! Emily is an accomplished photographer and is sharing her experience & approach to storytelling on Thursday, November 6th, from 2:30-4:45 in Lake Superior Hall, Room 154.

Emily Najera is a photographer and visual artist dedicated to capturing the essence of America’s evolving landscapes. With years of experience in photography, Emily has developed a singular perspective on documenting the shifting scenes of cities, roadways, and buildings. Her key themes include recording revitalization and change, such as the redevelopment of historical sites, and blending artistic vision with journalistic storytelling to address diverse topics. Najera took all of the images for this exhibition on highways US 40 and US 50, which historically brought travelers across the state. Emily earned a B.A. degree from Grand Valley State University in Michigan in 2007 and a M.F.A. degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013. She now lives in Reno with her family.

Emily’s work often focuses on the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, frequently photographing buildings and places after dark. She said, “Exhibitions are crucial for my artistic growth, providing opportunities for community engagement, experimentation with new techniques, and collaboration with other artists.” She aims for each exhibition to showcase her work, allow her to reflect on her artistic journey, and connect with audiences. Her website is https://www.emilynajera.com/ .

Najera’s photography has appeared in leading publications such as the New York Times, Bloomberg News, NPR, ProPublica, and more. Notable projects include covering the revitalization of Historic Brush Park in Detroit, documenting train stations in the Midwest, and most recently exploring housing affordability issues in Washoe County. These projects highlight her skill in blending artistic vision with journalistic storytelling.

Location Information

154 Lake Superior Hall

Download parking map for the Allendale Campus

Contact Information

Department of Visual and Media Arts

[email protected]

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This event was added to the calendar by Vinicius Lima (limav@gvsu.edu) on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 and was last updated on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 11:27 a.m.

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