Olivia Ridge: Inspiring Creative Joy and Professionalism
2026 Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year
Olivia Ridge encourages her students to remember one thing: making art should be fun.
That philosophy shapes every aspect of her teaching, from hands-on photography assignments to collaborative classroom experiences. In just three years at McHenry County College, Ridge has built a reputation for creating an engaging, supportive learning environment—earning her recognition as MCC’s 2026 Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year.
The award recipients are selected by peers based on their commitment to teaching, contributions to the college community, and professional development.
“Representing MCC as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year is a great honor,” Ridge said. “I’ve often said that one of the best parts of my job is how much fun I genuinely have in the classroom. This award feels like a meaningful validation of the supportive, open, and engaging classroom environment I strive to build with my students.”
Ridge currently teaches photography at MCC, focusing on both digital and darkroom techniques.
“Olivia teaches in ways that are accessible, rigorous, and responsive to the moment,” said Dr. Daniela Broderick, Chief Academic Officer at MCC. “She regularly develops new lectures, incorporating current artists and developments she encounters, often in real time. Olivia regards her students as professionals in training and creates a learning environment grounded in ethics, mutual respect, and high standards.”
Ridge earned her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. But like many of her students, her educational path wasn’t always straightforward.
“I originally attended the University of Minnesota, where I was majoring in Classical Near Eastern Studies because I thought I wanted to become an archaeologist. I realized quickly that I had little interest in reading about ancient civilizations. But when I took my first darkroom photography course as an elective, school suddenly became enjoyable and interesting,” she said.
After stepping away from school for several years, Ridge continued exploring photography on her own, devouring every book she could find in her small-town library. That experience led her to return to school and pursue art and photography more seriously.
“I decided to become a teacher at the same time I was discovering my passion for photography,” she said. “My own professors were a huge inspiration. Teaching allows me to pursue my own creative work while staying in conversation about art with a new generation of makers. I love guiding students through their ideas, critique sessions, and being part of their learning process.”
Alongside teaching, Ridge maintains an active creative practice as a photographer and ceramicist. She recently toured internationally with a Chicago-based rock band as their documentary photographer, traveling to venues like the National Concert Hall in Dublin and Abbey Road Studios in London. She has completed artist residencies, collaborated on exhibitions across the Midwest, and continues her ceramics work at a Milwaukee studio. She also teaches community and pre-college courses at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
In the classroom, Ridge channels her passion for photography into activities that make learning both interactive and fun. One favorite is “Friends and Family Night,” where students invite parents, partners, siblings, and friends to a “choose your own adventure”-style photography evening.
“Students design different portrait stations and experiment with lighting techniques, slow shutter photography, and creative setups,” Ridge said. “It’s exciting to bring together each other’s real-life communities and explore portraiture in a supportive environment. This semester, we are collaborating with Clay Mills’s Studio Lighting course and the MCC Business Club, taking professional LinkedIn portraits.”
Ridge also enjoys introducing students to Photoshop.
“I personally love the openness of the software, but it can be an overwhelming interface,” she said. “To introduce students to using layer masks, we use selfies to insert ourselves into a favorite piece of media. This activity is effective in learning a complicated tool, and the results always make me laugh.”
Several of Ridge’s students have transferred to four-year art programs, including UIC and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Many go on to advanced photography courses, build portfolios, or pursue their own creative projects.
“Seeing students explore photography beyond the classroom is always exciting,” Ridge said. “My goal is for students to leave my classes with both technical confidence and a stronger sense of their own creative voice. I want them to feel empowered to use photography to communicate ideas, tell stories, and engage with the world around them.”
Above all, Ridge encourages her students to approach art with curiosity, playfulness, and a sense of joy.
“When students chase what they enjoy in the creative process, inspiration naturally follows,” she said. “I encourage experimentation every step of the way. Photography, and art more broadly, are rarely linear processes. Some of the most interesting work happens when you take risks, try something new, and surprise yourself.”