Marissa Balbuena, MS
Senior Specialist, Graphic Design
Marissa Balbuena serves as a Senior Graphic Design Specialist at the Lastinger Center for Learning, where she leads the design efforts for the New Worlds Reading Initiative. She collaborates with internal teams to create high-quality, accessible educational assets, including reading guides and engagement materials, ensuring visual consistency from concept to completion.
Marissa’s career began with diverse roles, including independent freelancing and an internship with III Points Music, Art & Technology Festival in Miami, FL. Since 2019, she has advanced at the UF Lastinger Center for Learning from a Graphic Design Student Assistant to her current senior position. Previously at the Center, she specialized in online course design and initially led the development of the Flamingo Learning brand’s visual identity.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Master of Science in Management both from the University of Florida. In her free time, Marissa enjoys refining her cooking skills, going to the gym, and taking long walks with her husband and their dog Mila.