Mary Kay Neff is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill and is a design educator, graphic designer, and photographer. As Associate Professor of Art at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, she teaches graphic design and digital imaging courses, works with design interns, serves as the Graphic Design Club advisor, and Seton Arts Service Corps coordinator. She is sole proprietor of MKN Design, an independent studio, offering design and creative services to nonprofit organizations, education, and other companies. In the area of print graphics, MKN Design creates identity programs including logo, stationery, annual reports, brochures, signage, and newsletters. At the start of her design career she worked for a number of years as the Graphic Designer and Coordinator of Publications and Photography at Seton Hill University’s Office of Public Information. Sister Mary Kay completed her undergraduate studies in art at the Pennsylvania State University and earned an M.F.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology. While studying graphic design and photography at RIT she began working with historic, alternative process photographic methods, which she continues today along with digital photography. Sister Mary Kay’s award winning photography is exhibited locally and nationally and is included in a number of private collections. She is a member of the AIGA (the professional association for graphic design), and Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.

Education

• M.F.A., Rochester Institute of Technology, Graphic Design [More Information]
• B.A., Pennsylvania State University [More Information]

Publications

• Images 2, (2021) Neff, Mary Kay. [More Information]
• Images, (2017) Neff, Mary Kay [More Information]
• Alternative Process Photography, (2014) Neff, Mary Kay [More Information]

Awards

• 2016 Honorable Mention for Social Impact Design. Design in the Community: Service Learning, Visual & Infographics Awards 2015.
• Caritas Award, for Seton Hill University Faculty, 2013
• 2002 Color Photography Award. Circle. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
• 1999 Honorable Mention. Hands 3. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
• 1999 Honorable Mention. Tech City Art Contest. Polarity. Carnegie Science Center. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• 1999 Honorable Mention. Tech City Art Contest. Pathway. Carnegie Science Center. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• 1998 Tribune Review Photograph of the Year. Untitled. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• 1998 Westmoreland County Community College Cultural Programming Purchase Award. Untitled. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• 1997 Heritage Award. Moon and Tree II. Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• 1996 Photograph of the Year Award. Composite Blue Quilt. Westmoreland Art Nationals, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pennsylvania.

Organizations

• AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Arts [More Information]
• Associated Artists of Pittsburgh [More Information]

Presentations

• Presentation and exhibit, I Raise My Eyes, St. Louis, MO., 2017
• "Design in the Community: Service Learning" Poster Presentation, UCDA Design Education Summit, (Kean University, Union, NJ), May 2016.
• iTeach poster presentation, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, April 2012
• The Community Calls Forth the University, poster presentation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, July 2007
• Photography presentation, Southern Allegheny Museum of Art, Ligonier, 2000.

Performances

• 2023 Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier Valley, PA [More Information]
• 2023 Faculty Exhibit, Harlan Gallery, Seton Arts Arts Center, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA. [More Information]
• 2023 Donald M. Robinson Photography Biennial, Southern Allegheny Museum of Art, Altoona, PA [More Information]
• 2023 Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival Exhibition, Latrobe, PA [More Information]
• 2022 Backroads Further On Ahead, Vestige Concept Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2021 Donald M. Robinson Photography Biennial, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, PA [More Information]
• 2021 Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, Pennsylvania. Juried Exhibit.
• 2017 Sacred Art Exhibition, Our Lady of Grace Church, Pittsburgh, PA. Juried exhibition.
• 2016 Celebration of the Arts Exhibition, Saint Paul Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA. [More Information]
• 2016 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 105th Annual Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, Juried Exhibit. [More Information]
• 2015 f295 Salon Exhibit, The University Art Gallery, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Juried exhibition. [More Information]
• 2011 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 101 Annual Exhibition, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA. Juried exhibition. [More Information]
• 2010 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 100 Years of Art, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA.
• 2010 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 100 Years of Art, Point Park University, Lawrence Hall Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, Juried Exhibit.
• 2009 Three Rivers Art Festival, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• 2006-07 Biennial 2006 Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, PA, Juried Art Exhibit.
• 2005 10th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier Valley, PA.
• 2004 9th Annual Regional Art Exhibition, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, Ligonier, PA.
• 2004 30th Annual Hoyt Regional Juried Art Competition, New Castle, PA. Juried Art Exhibit.
• 2004 19th Annual International Exhibition, Tyler, Texas. Juried Art Exhibit.
• 2001 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Juried Exhibit.
• 2000 Triennial VII. Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, Pennsylvania. Juried Art Exhibit.
• 1999 Tech City Art Contest. Carnegie Science Center. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Juried Photography Exhibit.
• 1998 The Digital Print, A.I.R. Gallery, SoHo, New York, New York.
• 1997 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 87th Annual Exhibition, The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• 1996 Women in Communications, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Juried Graphic Design Competition.
• 1995 One Person Show, John Sloan Fine Arts Center, Lock Have University, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
• 1993 A Hidden River, The USX Tower Lobby, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Juried Art Exhibit.
• 1992 Easter Light: New Life, West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, West Bend, Wisconsin, Juried Traveling Exhibit, Biblical Arts Center, Dallas, Texas, Juried Traveling Exhibit.
• 1992 Two Person Show, Gallery Lounge, Penn State University, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
• 1991 Alternatives 91 Exhibit, Seigfred Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Juried Photography Exhibit.

Certifications

• Adobe Education Trainer, November 2014-2019
• Elite Training, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, August 2011-May 2012
• Online Summer Academy, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, June 2011
• Core Four Business Course, E-Magnify, Eberly College of Business, Indiana University, PA, April 2009

Achievements

• Chair of Art Program Review, 2000 and 2007
• Chair Graphic Design Program Review 1998