Guilford Art Professor Mark Dixon has seen what a liberal arts education can do – not just in his students, but in himself. Mark graduated from Guilford with an Art degree, but it was the interdisciplinary studies component at Guilford he remembers most.

For all the impact his Art instructors at Guilford had, they weren’t the faculty that changed him most. “I came in as an artist and left as an artist,” he says. “But I didn't come in as a writer, and (former Associate Professor of English) Becky Gibson in really incredible ways showed me that I could write. I write to this day and it's a very important part of my life.”

Guilford students are encouraged to pursue courses at the interfaces of disciplines to broaden their educational experience. A liberal arts education helps Guilfordians gain knowledge and skills in one or more fields beyond their primary major.

Mark took advantage of all that Guilford had to offer. “So many classes I would have never been encouraged to take somewhere else I was participating in at Guilford,” he says. “That was transformational for me.”

Guilford delivers that transformational liberal arts education with a unique approach shaped by the passion and expertise of our faculty and staff. Our graduates often find an edge in the job market because, unlike technical skills that may become outdated with advancing technology, the skills gained from a Guilford education – collaboration, problem-solving, and clear communication – are timeless and highly adaptable in an ever-changing world.

A Guilford education sharpens your ability to critically analyze and synthesize information, communicate effectively and think creatively. Our interdisciplinary study deepens the knowledge you learn in your chosen degree by helping you understand how your major connects to other disciplines.

At the core of a uniquely Guilford education is our distinguished faculty, who understand that learning and knowing are rooted in doing. Together, Guilford’s faculty and students continually seek ways to link theory to practice.

As new technologies and global connections change our modern world, employers want graduates who can think critically, communicate effectively and address issues ethically. Guilford grads bring a unique value to society that AI, automation and those with “hard skills” alone can’t provide.

Mark loves when a Guilford student sees their world differently after a semester or even a class.

“They’re transformed,” he says. “When you see the lights turning on, when you see people waking up to their intelligence and gifts? That’s why I get out of bed in the morning,” he says. “The world needs people who are occupying their intelligence and their gifts and figuring out how those gifts connect with the world’s needs. That’s what a Guilford education does for you.” 

Want to learn more about a College that can have the same impact on you? Contact Steve Mencarini or another member of the Admission team to learn more about Guilford.