Driven by Design

Graphic designer Faye Levine works behind the scenes to ensure the college’s external communications and branded products are picture-perfect.

Ask Faye Levine what she does best, and she’ll tell you this: “I know how to make things look pretty.” 

And she’s been doing it for more than a decade as the graphic designer for the University of Maryland’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) Dean’s Office. 

A visual storyteller, Levine designed eight issues of the college’s Odyssey alumni magazine and produces an endless stream of newsletters, event invitations, slide decks, brochures, signs, t-shirts, and anything else that needs a logo. She was honored for her extensive portfolio of work on May 1 with a 2026 CMNS Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award. 

She recalls her current post evolving when Amitabh Varshney became CMNS dean in 2018, and he suggested the communications team begin offering its expertise as a service to departments, research institutes and centers, and programs in the college. 

“He had a really strong sense of what makes good communications and the importance of branding,” she said. “Soon, we were starting department newsletters, websites, recruitment brochures, and promotional materials for events and giveaways.”

Levine spends time making sure the very intricate college and department logos will print properly on everything from glasses and shirts to foam squeezy stress toys shaped like footballs or turtles—"which is not as straightforward as you might think,” she said. “It’s not glamorous work, but those pre-press efforts are crucial if you want things to come out right.”

Rena Surana-Nirula, the CMNS Dean’s Office event planner, said Levine’s dedication to excellence is very evident. 

“Her high quality of work shows through on the many pieces of apparel seen worn across the campus and the promotional items given out at recruitment fairs,” she said. “Her creativity and attention to detail keep the college consistently looking professional and on brand. Many times, we have a short lead time for high-visibility events, and Faye always delivers what is needed.”

And then there are the many emails—from newsletters to event listings and invitations—which require Levine to manage the constantly evolving browsers, operating systems and accessibility requirements that affect even the simplest communications. 

“If you aren’t careful, things fall apart,” Levine said. 

Faye’s expertise across both print and digital products is an enormous asset to the Dean’s Office. She maintains brand consistency through careful use of fonts, colors and graphics, while also tailoring designs to each communication’s objective and audience.

“She has designed engaging, professional materials for campaigns and events, helping clearly communicate our goals and strengthen outreach to alumni and donors,” said Megan Carnell, former CMNS assistant dean for development. “Faye is always willing to go the extra mile. Faye was even known to bake her own pizza (pie) to photograph for Pi Day materials!”

Still abloom where she is

Before joining CMNS, Levine spent more than a decade in the A. James Clark School of Engineering, where she served as communications coordinator for multiple departments and was among the original staff members when the Fischell Department of Bioengineering launched. 

“In that job, I was writing, doing all the photography, maintaining the website, doing the graphic design,” she recalled. “I’m certainly not credentialed in some of those things, but I can get by in a pinch.” (She did.)

Going back further, Levine worked in commercial and freelance print and web design in Baltimore and her hometown of Minneapolis. She has also taught graphic design courses at local community colleges.

Levine says she’s very happy to have landed and stayed in the CMNS Dean’s Office.

“Even when many projects are flying around at once, or when I have to troubleshoot to stay ahead of the curve on technology challenges, it’s a great place to be,” she said. 

That’s because at CMNS, “there’s a sense of trust and shared responsibility; everybody knows everybody else will get their job done,” she said. “There’s mutual respect. That’s huge.”

She also appreciates working in academia.

 “I love that the university is its own small city filled with interesting people focused on innovation, learning and teaching,” she said. “Also, I feel taken care of here. There’s a great work-life balance that you don’t get in every job.”

That balance has let her pursue other passions, like traveling, creating photo books of her trips, wandering museums, hitting the hiking trail, enjoying classic car shows and fostering guinea pigs in support of small-animal rescues. Her current pig menagerie includes Yuki, Choco, Osgood and Bambera. (Osgood is up for adoption, for the record.)

Levine admits when Varshney called to tell her she’d been selected for the Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award, “My first reaction at hearing his voice was alarm: I wondered, what’s wrong? Did something really bad happen?”

That’s because she tends to think of these honors going to people who are very visible and active out in front, not backstage types like her. 

“I was very surprised and honored to be chosen,” she said. “It’s really nice to know people truly see my work and are happy with what I’m doing.”