City Intern Shaped by Otterbein and Westerville

Nurturing the education of future leaders, Otterbein University is home to more than 2,000 undergraduate students. The City has been fortunate to partner with the university through internship opportunities for current scholars. Graphic design intern Nevaeh Ellis has interned with the City’s Community Affairs Division for the last two years. She shared her insight into her collegiate experience in Westerville and why Otterbein was the right fit for her.

Ellis said her decision to attend Otterbein was influenced by the community she ultimately has had the opportunity to serve. “When I was deciding on what college to enroll in, I had a lot to consider. Ultimately, I decided to enroll at Otterbein University because I could tell there was a great community here and I felt it was a place I would genuinely enjoy and be able to call home. Otterbein is less than a 20-minute drive from Easton, Polaris and downtown Columbus. Being so close to home, I knew Otterbein was the perfect location for me.”

Ellis completed a double major in Studio Art and Art History and Visual Culture, with a focus on graphic design and a minor in Film Studies. She noted the wide range of courses Otterbein offers and how being a Liberal Arts college has allowed for the development and nurturing of unique courses that ultimately led her to major in her fields of study.

“Beginning college during COVID was extremely difficult. It was hard to make friends because we were social distancing and were not allowed to gather in groups bigger than four anywhere on campus. Uptown Westerville provided me with many different activities, stores, coffee shops and parks to spend time in. I felt like I was welcomed into the community and supported immediately and have felt that way since,” she said.

Having a space off campus, within walking distance, provided Ellis a place to still feel connected to her collegiate community while being able to explore all Westerville has to offer. She explained the community she found in Westerville will be one of the hardest things to leave behind after graduation.

“A lot of my friends and places I like to go are all in this area and I have built a little life for myself. I think leaving that will be hard and I will miss that. I feel like a completely different person than I was four years ago and I owe that to my college experience as well as my time in Westerville,” said Ellis.

After graduating, Ellis plans to move to New York City to pursue a career in art, design and art history.

Congratulations, Nevaeh and the entire class of 2024!

Nevaeh poses with her grandma (left) and parents (right) during a juried student exhibition in 2023 where her painting was chosen for display at the exhibit.

One of Nevaeh's favorite classes at Otterbein was painting class where she learned so much and met great people. Above are paintings she created from that semester.

Homecoming weekend is a time to celebrate Otterbein and be with friends and family. Nevaeh (second from left) completes the day with a picture with friends Nate (left), Lilly (right) and school mascot, Cardy.