For Tara Seth, a senior at Ferris State University studying Graphic Communications and Graphic Media Management, and the co-host of the “Talk More Print” podcast, a future in the printing industry wasn’t always part of the plan. What began as a high school exploration quickly turned into a creative passion, and now, a career path she’s excited to continue exploring.
Initially, Seth thought she wanted to study criminal justice until she discovered a printing and imaging program at her local tech center. After using a screen-printing press for the first time, she realized she could put her creative skills to use and applied for the program. Since then, she’s never looked back.
That moment of discovery set her on a path toward Ferris State, one of the leading institutions for print education. Now in her final year, Seth reflects on a curriculum that goes far beyond traditional graphic design.
“Our degree is very different from a graphic design program…we do design, but our core classes focus more on the production and setup, and pre-press and post-press. It's been super incredible to learn the process from beginning to end up here to prepare us for the print industry.”
Leading with Purpose
In addition to her academic work, Seth has taken on a major leadership role as first vice president and now President of Ferris State’s Graphic Arts Association (GAA). The student-run organization plays a key role in connecting students with industry opportunities, specifically in printing, graphic design, advertising, and marketing.
Seth’s position has given her valuable experience in both leadership and mentorship. “As president, I’m the big-picture person. If you need me there, if you have questions, I am your go-to person,” says Seth.
Beyond organizing events and guiding the executive board, Seth has also helped lead a smooth transition to the next generation of student leaders. With graduation approaching, she’s focused on mentoring incoming officers and sharing lessons learned.
“We recently had a leadership transition since I’m graduating, so we now have a new executive board. We’ve been helping coach them in their roles by sharing tips and things that worked well for us, so they don’t have to figure everything out on their own. It’s really helped me grow as a leader, and now I’m also focusing more on one-on-one coaching. Overall, the experience has been really rewarding.”
Learning Beyond the Classroom
As a student member of PRINTING United Alliance, Seth has also explored the organization’s iLEARNING+ training platform, which she’s found valuable to reinforce and expand upon concepts from her assignments.
“The topics align with a lot of our coursework. So, if there was ever a topic that we were stuck on, it was nice to log onto iLEARNING+ and really take the time to learn that specific topic at my own pace.”
As a senior preparing to graduate, Seth doesn’t always have much free time, but she appreciates that learning doesn’t have to stop once she earns her diploma. With continued access to iLEARNING+ after graduation, she sees an opportunity to keep building her skills to stay ahead of others entering the same career path.
“Having access to iLEARNING+ for two years after graduation is incredibly valuable, especially as you transition into the workforce. There are so many courses that are both interesting and beneficial. Early in your career, you’re still learning every day, and this allows you to be a sponge—building new skills, adding value to your employer, and setting yourself up for future success. It shows a real commitment to going above and beyond to learn new skills.”
While iLEARNING+ already serves as a strong foundation for workforce development, Seth believes it can continue to grow—particularly through expanded leadership and management training—to help young professionals build confidence.
Her feedback reflects a broader trend among emerging print professionals, with an interest not just in technical expertise, but also in developing the skills needed to prepare for future leadership roles.
PRINTING United Expo Student Day
A highlight for Seth every year is attending Student Day at PRINTING United Expo, in partnership with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), where she gets to see firsthand the theory she’s learning in the classroom up close and in person on the tradeshow floor.
“I look forward to Student Day every year. It’s a great way to build connections with companies exhibiting at the Expo, and I even use it as an icebreaker later. A quick mention like, ‘I stopped by your booth earlier during the student tour—I’d love to learn more about…’ is a great way to get a conversation flowing," said Seth. "I also really appreciate being able to apply what I’m learning in class directly to the industry. Seeing everything in person is so different from hearing about it in a classroom—it makes it more tangible and helps it stick. It also gives us exposure to technologies we don’t typically have access to in our labs, which is one of my favorite parts of the Expo.”
Amplifying Student Voices in Print
Seth is also helping shape the conversation around the future of print through her role as co-host of the Talk More Print podcast, alongside Ferris State graduate Mackenzie Griffin. What started as a late-night brainstorming session quickly turned into a growing platform for student perspectives.
Seth elaborates, “We just started—we picked three topics, and we recorded three episodes to give us time to do some more research, find more topics, and try to get feedback from people. And it just kind of snowballed from there.”
Since then, the podcast has expanded to include interviews with industry professionals and discussions on topics ranging from leadership experiences to mental health in the workplace. One standout episode for Seth was the conversation with the Graphic Arts Association Executive Board on their experience leading the organization, while reflecting on their time at Ferris.
What’s Next?
As graduation approaches, Seth is keeping her options open. She’s looking forward to finding a position that continues to build her skillset while allowing her to try new things.
As she prepares to take the next step in her career, one thing is clear: Tara Seth didn’t just find her place in print—she’s helping shape its future.
For more information on iLEARNING+ or to start exploring courses and certifications today, visit: https://www.printing.org/library/ilearning.
If you’re an Alliance student or educator member who is interested in being featured in our iLEARNING+ Spotlight series, reach out to press@printing.org.