Behnoush McKay is a professor and the chair of the Design Programs, which include Graphic Design, Fashion Design, and the Foundation Program, at Woodbury University. She joined Woodbury in 1997 as an adjunct faculty member and transitioned to a full-time position in 2006. She earned her BFA in Graphics and Packaging Design from ArtCenter College of Design and her MFA in Visual Communication from California State University, Northridge.

In her classes, Behnoush guides students in developing an analytical approach to design through research and its applications, helping them translate complex materials and information into clear, cohesive visual messages. As an educator and scholar, she has built her career on the principles of design thinking and social justice. She teaches her students to create meaningful, sustainable, human-centered design solutions and encourages them to shape their careers around practices that consider the long-term impact of design on all physical and contextual aspects of life.

Over the past 14 years, Behnoush has presented her academic research at both international and national design and educational conferences on topics such as the future of graphic design and design education, social responsibility in design, and educational assessment.

The Woodbury University Graphic Design Program and its students’ work have been regularly evaluated by five professional graphic design organizations, including Graphis, Communication Arts Magazine, GDUSA Magazine, Animation Career Review, and Intelligent.com. These evaluations have placed the Graphic Design Program among the top 35 programs nationwide and the top 20 programs in California over the past seven years.

Education

California State University, Northridge California June 2007
Graduate School, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, with Distinction

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California August 1991
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphics/Packaging, with Honors