School of Art and Design Announces Outstanding Students
Crystal Choi: Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Crystal Choi has been named both the Outstanding Undergraduate Student from the School of Art and Design and the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate for the entire College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at SDSU. An Art History major with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies, Crystal has demonstrated a deep commitment to cultural representation, museum accessibility, and academic excellence.
“My goal is to create museum spaces that reflect the richness and diversity of the communities they serve,” Crystal shared. Her passion for Asian diasporic art, inclusive exhibition design, and curatorial research has shaped her academic journey and career aspirations. Following graduation, she plans to work in art conservation or curatorial research, with the goal of pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D. in Art History or Conservation and eventually teaching at the college level.
Crystal credits much of her growth to the mentorship of Dr. Gillian Sneed, who she says “gave me the confidence to believe that a future in the arts—whether in conservation, curation, or higher education—was not only possible, but worthwhile.” From guiding her research to helping revive the Art History Club, Dr. Sneed’s support has been pivotal. Crystal’s story is one of resilience, empathy, and a visionary approach to the arts.
Yena Kim: Outstanding Graduate Student
Yena Kim has been named the 2025 Outstanding Graduate Student from the School of Art and Design at SDSU.
A dedicated MFA student, Kim’s recent thesis, “Uncanny Garden,” evolved from a single basket-weaving technique–a method that guides the entire process and shapes the woven forms.
“I appreciate both the predictability of repetition and the endless choices: when to break the weaving pattern or allow the inherent qualities of reed to guide my hands as I work with it rather than against it through force,” she explains. “Positioning each piece in relation to the environment and the negative space between them, I constructed a landscape reminiscent of both the known and the unknown–perhaps even the imagined.”.
This specific technique serves as a parameter for exploring different variations of abstract forms. The result is a collection of forms that feel both natural and unfamiliar.
“Driven by the tactile connection between hands and material, my work invites a sense of presence,” she said.
Yena’s goal is to create large-scale sculptures and installations using traditional techniques.
“SDSU has helped me refine my skills, deepen my understanding of materials, and develop my artistic voice. The program has given me the confidence to focus on researching traditional materials in depth, producing immersive work that challenges viewers’ perceptions.”
Through her creativity, curiosity, and passion for the process of making, Yena Kim has made a lasting impact at SDSU.
