Career & Professional Experience (CAPX)

Wednesday, February 4
3:15–5:15 p.m.
Sharp Building, Room 327

This workshop will focus on strategies for preparing and successfully interviewing for faculty positions at colleges and universities, from semi-finalist to finalist interviews and campus visits. Attendees will be paired with an experienced faculty member to take them through a mock/practice interview, providing individualized feedback and tips. Depending on the number of students participating, attendees may have the opportunity to take part in more than one practice interview session.

Please bring whatever application materials you have (CV, teaching statement, cover letter, artist statement, etc.) and a job posting of interest.

3:15–3:45 p.m.
Introductory Talk
Questions & Answers

3:45–5:15 p.m.
Mock Interviews

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

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Monday, February 9
3:30–4:30 p.m. 
Virtual (Zoom)

C2E2 is a fan convention dedicated to comics, pop culture, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television held annually in Chicago. Join this session to learn more about what it's like to work for ReedPop, one of the largest producers of pop culture events in the world!

About the Speakers:

Liz Jaite is an experienced event producer and the Content Manager for the U.S. Comics Portfolio at ReedPop, where she oversees programming for major conventions including New York Comic Con, C2E2, Emerald City Comic Con, and Florida Supercon. With over a decade in the entertainment and live events industry, she blends creative strategy, logistics expertise, and fan‑first thinking to deliver standout programming across large‑scale shows. Liz is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design and enjoys sketching in a cozy coffee shop, skiing, and heavy metal.

Alex Rae is a seasoned comic book enthusiast, retailer, and industry professional with a Bachelor's degree in Animation. With over 10 years of experience managing live events in the comic book world, he has built a remarkable reputation for his deep knowledge and passion for the medium. He loves playing the Star Wars Universe Card Game, A fan of cartoons and mystery Novels. He spends quality time with his wife, exploring antique and thrift shops, always on the lookout for hidden gems and nostalgic treasures.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

Register

Wednesday, February 11
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Neiman Center, First Floor 

Get an inside look at how one of the country’s leading museums supports emerging creatives. In this Career Talk, the Art Institute of Chicago’s Academic Engagement and Research team will introduce summer opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including the museum’s competitive Summer Internship Intensive. You’ll learn what makes a strong application, how to approach your materials with intention, and what to expect from internship experiences shaped by mentorship and hands-on learning.

Rachel Joy Echiverri Rowland (she/her), assistant director for Academic Engagement and Research, will share how her team fosters a supportive space for research, conversation, and professional development across the museum. She will also speak about her work with interns and fellows, her path at the Art Institute since 2014, and her involvement in the museum’s equity- and community-centered initiatives.

This session is ideal for students interested in museums, arts administration, research, education, writing, public engagement, and any creative path that connects art with community and scholarship.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

Register

Monday, February 16
3:30–4:30 p.m. 
Sharp Building, Room 327

In this brief overview, participants will glimpse into the history of philanthropy in the United States. We will pursue the question: "Why pay artists?" As part of the workshop, participants will undergo a review of artist statements and an exercise on triangulating their practice.

This event is part of CAPX's How It Works series, which offers a set of concentrated, skills-oriented sessions that present critical components of creative careers as applicable methods for students and alums. Sessions offer practical strategies and expert guidance anchored in current professional standards.

About the speaker:
J. Gibran Villalobos (MAHA 2013) is an arts administrator, curator, and educator focused on civic engagement and cultural policy. He has served as Senior Program Officer at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). He has previously held posts as Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Public Programs and Partnerships Manager for the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Cultural Liaison for the Chicago Park District, Curator-in-Residence for the Chicago Cultural Center. He is a Civic Leadership Academy Fellow from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where he worked with government and nonprofit sector participants to think about effective policy for Chicago’s cultural industries. Gibran currently serves as Chair of the Chicago Artists Coalition Board of Directors, he is a founding member of the Auxiliary Board of the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

Register

Monday, February 23
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Sharp Building, Room 327

Behind every exhibition is a set of decisions and structures that influence an artist’s path. This session will explain how those mechanisms function in galleries and outline the factors that guide selection. You’ll learn how to position your work and how to approach gallery opportunities with a clear sense of the field.

This event is part of CAPX's How It Works series, which offers a set of concentrated, skills-oriented sessions that present critical components of creative careers as applicable methods for students and alums. Sessions offer practical strategies and expert guidance anchored in current professional standards.

About the speaker:
Vincent Uribe (BA and BFA 2013) is an artist and creative community builder based in Chicago, IL. A Los Angeles native, Vincent is a dual-degree graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is the Founding Director of LVL3, an artist-run exhibition space and online publication launched in 2010. Vincent has organized hundreds of exhibitions featuring influential emerging and mid-career artists nationally and internationally, with a focus on building connections for artists. In 2013, Vincent joined the team at Arts of Life to help expand opportunities for artists with disabilities. Through the Artist Enterprise Program, he launched Arts of Life’s in-studio Circle Contemporary gallery and nationally grew Arts of Life’s public exhibitions through numerous international art fairs. Vincent leads the year-round exhibition program for Ingress Gallery at Soho House Chicago, which annually features and promotes 12 local artists. In 2025, Vincent took on the role of Gallery Director at Epiphany Center for the Arts, overseeing the historic cathedral's six unique exhibition spaces. His work includes shows with the Chicago Cultural Center, Art on theMART, INTUIT Museum of Outsider Art, the Design Museum of Chicago, and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, among others. Vincent serves as a founding board member for Equity Arts and the Chair for the IDEA Committee for INTUITS Executive Board. He has participated in and led numerous talks and panels dedicated to artists’ professional development. His work has been featured and recognized in publications such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and New City.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

Register

Wednesday, February 25
3:30–4:30 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom 

Join us for the first prep workshop ahead of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Internship & Career Fair. We’ll start promptly at 3:30 p.m. with a brief presentation covering participating employers, the opportunities they’re offering, and strategies for approaching your networking with confidence. After that, you can visit breakout tables for details on CAPX advising appointments, internships, career fair employers, and International Affairs (CPT). Bring your questions!

Please note that this session prepares you for the fair but is not the fair itself. Registration for and more information about the Internship & Career Fair (Wednesday, March 25, 3:00–5:00 p.m.) can be found here.

Other Upcoming Internship & Career Fair Prep Workshops:

• Resume Development (Wednesday, March 4, 3:30–5:00 p.m.)
• How to Introduce Yourself (Wednesday, March 11, 3:30–5:30 p.m.)

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) events are open to SAIC students, alums, faculty, and staff. For access requests, including ASL interpretation or audio description, visit saic.edu/access.

Register