When Andrés Palacios Constanza ’25 reflects on his childhood in Guatemala, one of his favorite memories involves drawing. He and his brother attended arts classes as a chance to find their creative voices, and this gave Constanza the opportunity to draw freely for the first time.
He loved it so much that he envisioned his future as an illustrator—until robotics caught his attention. “I even considered changing high schools at one point so I could join a better math program,” he explains.
But as Constanza watched his older sister apply to colleges, letting her interest in the creative arts guide her, he had a change of heart. When it was his turn to consider higher education, he left robotics behind for the arts, choosing to study animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Once he began the program, however, he realized it was more technical than he anticipated. After transitioning to illustration, he knew he found the right fit. “Illustration is such a big and flexible industry,” he says. “There are lots of opportunities: children’s books, advertising, editorial illustration, etc.”
As an international student on an F-1 Visa, if he wanted to stay in the United States after graduation, Constanza had only 90 days after receiving his degree to find a job. So, he returned to Guatemala and used social media to connect with professionals in illustration. His diligent networking soon paid off: One of his messages turned into an opportunity with Filgua, Guatemala’s annual national book fair. He also did freelance illustration work for a property management company’s postcard campaign.
“While these were great experiences, they also showed me that there are lots of things I don’t know when it comes to managing a business and how to make my career sustainable,” he explains.
To boost his knowledge, his father suggested graduate school. “He told me, ‘You already have the creative side. Maybe you need to study something that would help you with the business side.’ That was the push I needed to look for a master’s program.”
As Constanza weighed his options, he reached out to the owner of an advertising agency in Guatemala to ask about hiring criteria and preferences. “He told me he focuses on hiring people who have leadership abilities, who know how to communicate and sell ideas, and know how to pitch to clients. After hearing that, I knew the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises program was the direction I wanted to go.”
In the beginning, Constanza was nervous about the shift from undergraduate to graduate-level work—especially the amount of reading involved. Earning his BFA in Illustration involved lots of hands-on drawing, with little time spent reading or writing. But the transition has been much smoother than he expected.
“I went from never reading textbooks to reading almost every day for class, which I actually really enjoy,” he explains. “We’re often reading case studies, which are very interesting. We have to think critically about the text we’re reading, question it, and then be prepared to discuss it.”
Only a few weeks into the program, he had been introduced to a world of career possibilities: working for an advertising firm, becoming an art director for a magazine, or returning to Guatemala to open his own creative studio.
“There’s a lot of untapped potential back home,” he says. “There are many illustrators, animators, and great artists who are underrepresented and scattered around the country. They don’t have a place to get together to work and collaborate, and that’s what I’d like to create.”
But he plans to keep his options open as he moves through the program so he’s prepared for whatever comes his way. “Sometimes, when you’re positive that you’re going to take a certain path, it doesn’t work out that way.”
For example, he recently discovered the concept of transmedia storytelling, which involves sharing a single story or experience across multiple platforms and formats. He quickly realized he could pursue that path as well.
“This program is broadening my horizons in terms of career options and industry opportunities,” he explains, “and I want to be open to and ready for all of them.”
The MSLCE Program’s Most Enjoyable Moments
While Andrés Palacios Constanza ’25 says he’s enjoying every aspect of the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises program (MSLCE), there are a few things he truly appreciates.
- Program guidance. Constanza was surprised to discover the amount of guidance provided by faculty and staff. “We’re in an environment where we don’t have to learn equally or process things equally,” he says. “We’re respected no matter what. It’s very welcoming.”
- Discussion-based interactions. He appreciates that the program isn’t too focused on lectures. “Instead, it’s interactive and discussion-based, which is a really stimulating way to learn.”
- Cohort support. Constanza says his peers are great about supporting one another. “It’s beautiful to be in a master’s program that’s very accepting and nurturing.
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