Before joining Watkins College of Art/Belmont University, Dr. Abadie-Mendia served as virtual instruction and engagement director at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). In this role, she provided leadership for instructional engagement initiatives and professional development for faculty. She has also served as a professor of graphic design for over 20 years at several institutions and held appointments as department chair, faculty graduate advisor, and thesis chair. With 30+ years of design practice experience, Dr. Abadie-Mendia brings to the classroom a diverse design perspective focusing on theory and practice. Her areas of design interest include the creative process, contextual research, typography, publication design, packaging, and information design. In the area of higher education administration, her areas of interest include program evaluation, curriculum development, assessment, and student engagement.
Dr. Abadie-Mendia was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She is married to her husband Victor and has a lovely stepdaughter, three dogs, and a grand kitty.