We're in the middle of a digital revolution. If you want to be relevant, you need
to develop a digital mindset.
The College of Innovation and Design is about identifying and developing the types
of digital and leadership skills you need to thrive in the digital economy.
Valerie Hubener worked in several labs across campus until she found a field of study
that was perfect for her in user experience (UX) design.
Valerie is one of more than 1,300 students eligible for fall 2022 graduation. Learn
more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.
Hometown
Damascus, Syria
Degree
I will be receiving my Master of Innovation Design (MID), focusing on UX design and
UX research.
What made you want to attend Wichita State?
I went to Wichita Collegiate for my senior year of high school, so WSU was an easy
decision since I was already familiar with the area. I also graduated with my bachelor's
from Wichita State in 2020.
How are you feeling leading up to graduation?
The closer graduation gets, the more enthusiastic I become about obtaining my master's
and for the plans I have after. The past year and a half has been stressful and busy,
but also the most satisfying. I'm looking forward to implementing what I've learned
from my graduate experiences and MID in the industry.
What has been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I faced as a student, especially in graduate school, was
overcoming imposter syndrome. I knew I had the ability to obtain my master's in the
field, but putting myself out there — whether it was for internships, jobs or projects
— was something I had to get used to. I would definitely say I am much more confident
in my knowledge and abilities now.
What has been your most helpful learning experience at Wichita State?
The most helpful learning experience at WSU has been being involved in different research
labs and projects. Doing that is what led me to learn about a field I had never heard
of before and obtain the skills I needed to pursue a career in that field.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be working as a UX researcher intern at Human Interfaces in Austin, Texas.
I will be designing, conducting and reporting user studies.
What advice would you give other Wichita State students?
Try to branch out and see what opportunities are available to you. So many domains
of study are interconnected, and you could benefit from learning about different perspectives.
During my time in MID, I took graduate classes with the computer science and human
factors psychology departments that provided me with a unique experience and set of
skills.
