Hobbs, an Eastern Ky. native, is the Director of Creative & Branding Services at Morehead State University (MSU). In April, 2020, she was accepted in the Ph.D. in Arts Administration program at the University of Kentucky (UK). She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from UK, a Master of Arts in Studio Art & a Bachelor of Arts in Art (Graphic Design) from MSU. She is an illustrator & graphic designer & has exhibited nationally and internationally, and has served as an instructor at MSU since 2008.

 

Hobbs was instrumental in developing the initial concept for a mentoring program for underrepresented students, DREAMS, as part of the 2009 class of the MSU President’s Leadership Academy. She is a founding member & former advisor of ALLYance (an LGBTQ+ student organization) at MSU. She also established the Hobbs Endowment for Equality, a $50,000 endowment fund committed to supporting academic scholarship and diverse programming at MSU. She is a member of the MSU Visionary Society & Circle of Excellence, providing leadership & financial support to further the University's mission.

 

She is a former member of the MSU President’s Diversity Council. In 2008, Hobbs became a member of the MSU President’s Leadership Academy. Her past contributions include serving on the Kentucky Fairness Alliance Board of Directors, the Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen, & Downtown Morehead Inc. In 2017, she was commissioned by the Gov. of Kentucky to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels in recognition of her service to the community & state. In 2020, she was awarded the Morehead State University Distinguished Staff Service Award.

 

In addition to serving on MSU Staff Congress and Eagle Diversity & Inclusion Team, her current memberships include the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Appalachian Studies Association (ASA), Association for Arts Administrators in Education (AAAE), Association for Cultural Economics International (ACEI), Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, Council for the Advancement & Support of Education (CASE), Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS), Morehead-Rowan Co. Chamber of Commerce, National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Fraternity, Project Management Institute (PMI®) and the University College Designers Association (UCDA).

 

Her community service includes serving as chair of the Morehead-Rowan County NewCity Community Development Corp. & chair of the Rowan Co. Arts Center promotions foundation board, where she also volunteers as an instructor.

For more information, visit www.linkedin.com/in/tonihobbs.