Alumni Profiles
Kimberly Magaña ’15
“I’m able to think outside of the box and voice creative ideas at work. I owe that to my Crossroads teachers.”
When Kimberly enrolled in a photography class at Crossroads in ninth grade, she felt excited—and a little nervous. Her teacher, Kate Johnson, encouraged students to expand their artistic process. Kimberly began to explore alternative materials and social issues she cared about. One of her installations comprised underwater shots of sea animals printed on transparency paper and displayed inside illuminated plastic bottles, “to appear like the oceans were trapped in our trash,” she explained.
At first, Kimberly wondered if she might be criticized for her unconventional work. But, she recalled, “Kate embraced and fostered my approaches. Every prompt she gave allowed us to explore however we wanted to. That made me feel safe enough to try things. Kate’s class sparked a lot of confidence, curiosity and creativity in me.”
Kimberly pursued her interest in visual arts throughout high school and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in studio art from California State University, Long Beach. After college, she returned to Crossroads for two years as an art teacher in the summer program. Working with young students reminded her of what she valued in her own education. “I encouraged students to produce what was true to them,” she said. “Individuality is important. Crossroads taught me that, and I will push it wherever I can.”
Crossroads teachers also supported Kimberly’s individuality as an academic learner. When she was struggling in a high school chemistry class, Teacher Jason Johnson worked with her to identify what was challenging. “I discovered ways of learning that worked best for me,” she said. “And realized I was a visual and tactile learner.”
Today, Kimberly works as a logistics coordinator at Cooke’s Crating and Fine Arts Transportation, managing the collection and shipping of high-value artwork for collectors and institutions. She sees a throughline from her Crossroads experience to her professional success. She reflected, “I’m able to think outside of the box and voice creative ideas at work. I owe that to my Crossroads teachers.”
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At first, Kimberly wondered if she might be criticized for her unconventional work. But, she recalled, “Kate embraced and fostered my approaches. Every prompt she gave allowed us to explore however we wanted to. That made me feel safe enough to try things. Kate’s class sparked a lot of confidence, curiosity and creativity in me.”
Kimberly pursued her interest in visual arts throughout high school and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in studio art from California State University, Long Beach. After college, she returned to Crossroads for two years as an art teacher in the summer program. Working with young students reminded her of what she valued in her own education. “I encouraged students to produce what was true to them,” she said. “Individuality is important. Crossroads taught me that, and I will push it wherever I can.”
Crossroads teachers also supported Kimberly’s individuality as an academic learner. When she was struggling in a high school chemistry class, Teacher Jason Johnson worked with her to identify what was challenging. “I discovered ways of learning that worked best for me,” she said. “And realized I was a visual and tactile learner.”
Today, Kimberly works as a logistics coordinator at Cooke’s Crating and Fine Arts Transportation, managing the collection and shipping of high-value artwork for collectors and institutions. She sees a throughline from her Crossroads experience to her professional success. She reflected, “I’m able to think outside of the box and voice creative ideas at work. I owe that to my Crossroads teachers.”
