By Diana Bautista Hernandez, Student Media Assistant for OEL
Ellen Aughenbaugh ’26, a double major in Biological Sciences and Studio Art and 2025 Engaged Learning Fellow, showcased her project, Interlinked: Bridging Art and Science this semester at the Jordan Gallery in the Owens Art Center. Aughenbaugh’s vision was to bridge the field of art and science together in an exhibit collection of oil paintings and charcoal drawings. She invited the viewer to contemplate not just the art but the deeper connection that it shares with the world of science.
What is your project about?
Interlinked is an interdisciplinary artistic research project that bridges the fields of art and science. The project culminated in a gallery exhibition inviting viewers to contemplate the similarities between the two disciplines as they intertwine in their search for truth and beauty. I primarily created oil paintings and charcoal drawings, focusing on neuroscience-related themes.
What was one moment during this project that really stuck with you?
One moment that really stuck with me was the moment of the exhibition itself, when the private, often lonesome work of creating art suddenly became public. Seeing my pieces up on the wall, framed and lit, was an entirely different experience from seeing them scattered across the floor of my studio. It felt like they transformed in a way I hadn’t expected. What was even more striking was witnessing how different groups reacted: scientists, artists, interdisciplinary thinkers, and even people who didn’t consider themselves part of either world. Everyone brought their own questions and perspectives, and each related to my work in unique ways. I was surprised and moved by how many people, regardless of their background, wanted to know more about the scientific inspirations behind my work. It reminded me that curiosity is universal, and that art can be a bridge between fields that might seem separate at first glance.
In what ways did this experience help you grow or push you outside of your comfort zone?
One thing that really pushed me outside of my comfort zone during this project was figuring out how to make science feel personal and empathetic. As a portrait artist, I’m used to people immediately connecting with faces- there’s an instant emotional reaction. With Interlinked, I had to find a way to make cells, anatomical sketches, and synapses feel just as relatable and emotionally provocative. It challenged me to push my craft further, and to find humanity inside the structures and processes that make us who we are.
The Big iDeas program empowers students to transform their entrepreneurial ideas into impactful ventures. We recently caught up with Ryland Adzich, a first-year student at SMU who jumped into her co-curricular journey early — not only as a Big iDeas participant but also as an Engaged Learning Fellow. Ryland shared the inspiration behind her philanthropic organization and gave us a glimpse into the meaningful work she is implementing across the DFW metroplex.
In Fall 2024, Ryland was the top winner of the Big iDeas Pitch Competition, earning $1,000 from the Big iDeas Program, along with an additional $1,000 Boost Award from the Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership for having the “Most Inspiring Idea” of the competition. In the upcoming academic year, Ryland will serve as the President of the Women’s Innovative Network – a new student organization and network that empowers women to innovate, connect, and support each other in their entrepreneurial and research endeavors.
Q: You’re wrapping up your first year at SMU! Tell us about what why you chose SMU in the first place.
Being invited as a Dedman Scholar, it was nice to feel wanted by a community and wanted by SMU as much as I wanted them. The research opportunities with faculty as an undergraduate student was another big one. I also love Dallas. I love the community of people and the students here. I really feel like people are trying to work together to uplift students to succeed on a national and international level.
Q: What is the organization you started and what inspired the social impact element of it?
The Creative Destination is a philanthropic organization that works to create literacy spaces in underserved communities and in laundromats. Think books, shelves, and posters — essentially a mini library. The reason why we chose laundromats was because those can be everyday spaces to children. Many times, children are spending significantly more time in those “everyday spaces” than in the classroom. So if we can encourage reading and parent-to-child communications, that will increase success in and outside of the classroom.
While I was in high school, I worked with a professor at the NYU Steinhardt School of Education in one of my tech labs in school. She had introduced this idea about literacy spaces in laundromats on the East Coast, but I wanted to adapt that so it would make sense for The Creative Destination and underserved communities in California. I was already thinking about my idea before the tech lab, but seeing this on a smaller scale on the East Coast gave me inspiration to go through with it.
Q:Tell us about your recent partnership with The Creative Destination and The Hockaday School in Dallas?
The Hockaday School already has an Institute for Social Impact. I was interested in mentoring younger students but also getting feedback for The Creative Destination. I get to work with girls who are already interested in giving back to their community. If I can enhance that and help them hold on to that through having them help me build these literacy spaces in laundromats across the city, then that’s important to me.
Ryland speaking and doing an activity at The Hockaday School in Fall 2024.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part about starting your own philanthropic organization from the ground up?
Getting to work with other data-driven people has been very exciting. Also, getting to see the benefits to people that are frequenting these laundromat spaces. Whether that be customers, or laundromat owners seeing their spaces be improved by encouraging reading, I just go back to how important building community to me. Laundromats can be a great place of building community. You know, you’re sitting there for maybe anhour and a half waiting for your clothes to dry and maybe talking to people. Hopefully just a little bit of time every day to read instead of being on a phone or a tablet can encourage kids to keep reading.
Q: What have you been able to do with the award money you received from The Big iDeas Program?
That funding has been helpful because we have been able to fund 5 new literacy spaces in laundromats across the country. Four will be in Dallas and one will be in California. Some of the girls that I’m mentoring at The Hockaday School are helping me with the Dallas spaces. I’m hopeful for next year as I continue to establish myself more in Dallas to grow my laundromat network.
In the next three months, I hope to give The Creative Destination a fresh new look. I want to use some of the funding to do logo and media updates to prepare for the upcoming year. I highly recommend bringing your ideas to the Big iDeas Pitch Competition.
What advice would you give to a first year student, specifically a student in Dedman, who is wanting to build their business when they come to SMU?
I would say don’t box yourself into one set way to think about a business. Business principles can be applied to organizations, programs, and initiatives that are outside of a traditional business framework. Operating The Creative Destination as a business is something that I want to continue to work on. Also, I would encourage students to just have fun on campus. Time really does fly, so take stock and enjoy all of the resources on campus. It’s all at our fingertips and we can make so many different connections.
Interested in bringing your ideas to life? Learn more about Big iDeas and other opportunities through The Office of Engaged Learning by visiting our website.
