Some people find their passion early. Nhu Nguyen Dowling started working as a fashion photographer at 14 years old, which helped her find her passion for visual storytelling.
Scholarship support from The Audrey Pressler Bauman Scholarship Fund and The Nicholas Talarico Paskowsky Memorial Fund helped Nhu become the creative leader she is today.
A 2011 graduate of Frederick High School, Nhu graduated from Stevenson University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Communication Design and Marketing. Since then, she’s built a career at the intersection of design and social impact, working with advocacy organizations, national nonprofits, and cultural campaigns.
Nhu currently works as a Vice President, Creative Director at Fenton Communications.
Nhu says that receiving scholarships has had a profound impact on her, not only easing the financial burden of continuing her education but providing her with something more.
“Those scholarships in 2011 were a vote of confidence at a time when I was still finding my voice and path as a young immigrant artist navigating unfamiliar systems,” Nhu said.
In addition to her work with Fenton, Nhu runs her own creative studio and shop—Brand Nhu Creative—which explores her passion for identity-driven projects that celebrate community, culture, and intersectional experiences.
This article was featured in the Community Foundation’s fiscal year 2025 Annual Report.