Monse Munoz (Art Direction, 2026)
My name is Monse. I am a first-generation Mexican American. My parents came to the United States with the clothes on their backs and a dream for their children to have more than they did. Watching them work harder than anyone around me without ever asking for recognition taught me what sacrifice actually looks like. It also taught me that if something scares you, that might be the exact thing worth doing.
That is what pushed me toward education. College was a huge deal in my family, as it was something my parents did not get a chance to do. Getting a master’s degree felt even bigger, not because of the title, but because I knew how rare it still is for kids like me, kids from immigrant families to even picture that as an option. When I found advertising during undergrad, it felt personal. It was about purpose. I fell in love with the mix of creativity and culture. I loved that advertising lets you make something that speaks to millions of people who, most of the time, don’t realize you’re speaking to them on an individual level. That’s when everything clicked for me.
When I considered furthering my education, there was only one clear answer and that was Brandcenter. It was first brought up to me at my undergrad’s Adlab at SIU Carbondale where we had alums that went to brandcenter. It stood out immediately. Yes, it has the reputation of being the #1 school for advertising and creatives. That’s not why I moved. It was the way people talked about it. They didn’t brag about the awards first, they talked about the late nights, the people you create with, the ideas that start off rough and end up turning into something insane, the community that feels like a team not a classroom. That mattered to me. Home for me is far away, but I knew I needed to find a place where I could grow surrounded by people who cared as much as I did.
So I packed up my car and drove 12 hours to Virginia. Nervous. Excited. My life fit into the trunk and the backseat. I remember thinking halfway through the drive that this felt familiar, like my own little version of what my parents did. I didn’t know exactly who I would become there, but I knew staying comfortable wasn’t an option for me.
It really has been amazing and life-changing. Brandcenter has pushed me creatively in ways I didn’t know I had in me. It challenged how I think, how I work, and how I tell stories. It gave me people I trust, friends who think differently than me but want the same things. It gave me a family away from home, which I didn’t realise I needed until I had it. Most of all, it turned that spark I found in undergrad into something way bigger, something real, something with shape.
That’s why I chose Brandcenter. Because it felt like the place that was built for people who want more, and are willing to do the work to get there. And while I do get homesick, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.