Katy Mangrich

April 7, 2022

Digital Design teacher Katy Mangrich reviews photos from an assignment with junior Addie Gleason during her plan period. Mangrich took inspiration from her college professor, Cherie Fister, and aspired to leave an impact on her students, as Fister did on her. “I admired her creativity and the type of person she was; she inspired me to be more like her. I have taken that into my teaching, which is one of the reasons that I push [my students] as much as I do in my classes,” Mangrich said.

Art teacher Katy Mangrich is inspired by her first graphic design teacher, Maryville University professor and Dean of Arts and Science, Cherie Fister. She hopes to embody Fister’s attitude in the classroom.

“That connection and relationship I had with her inspired me and moved me down the path I’m on now,” Mangrich said. “When you grow up, and you see somebody, and you want to be like them, that’s how I saw her. I loved her confidence and role as a teacher and her friendliness, compassion and how much she cared for me as an individual and my success.”

After graduating, Mangrich went on to be a digital designer for 10 years before transitioning into teaching. Before making the switch, she met with Fister to talk through the process. During their conversation, Mangrich and Fister spoke about the importance of student engagement.

“That was one of my biggest memories [with her]. The idea that she could give me advice [for] moving into the field that she had been in when I had met her initially,” Mangrich said. “[We talked a lot about] relationships with students, how to reach and engage with students and how that’s the most meaningful part of teaching, rather than what you’re teaching. Kids engage and learn much more when they feel a connection with you versus when you’re just giving them information.”

Mangrich witnessed the importance of this connection on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, during her class with Fister.

“The first class of the day was hers. So when we all showed up to school, she was the teacher in that classroom with us at the very beginning,” Mangrich said. “[It was] her compassion and willingness to comfort us but at the same time relate to us on our level. That’s the strongest memory I have of her.”

Mangrich shows her appreciation for Fister by extolling her to her friends, students and colleagues, even mentioning her former professor during her job interview for her current position.

“In the interview, she was the first person that immediately came into my head. I constantly give her credit regardless of whether she knows [or not]. Just the other day, I had a former student [who is in the design program at Maryville] come to visit me, and I’m always like, ‘if you see Cherie on campus, you have to make sure you tell her that you were my student,’” Mangrich said.

Although they no longer see each other, they are both successful in their fields and praise each other for their accomplishments.

“She went from being a teacher, all the way up, now she’s the dean,” Mangrich said. “It makes me proud because I know she’s proud of me when she sees students that come out of my classes; it’s a trickle-down. She’s proud of me; I’m proud of them. So it’s fun to have that legacy.”