Two Christian Brothers University (CBU) students saw their creative work reach new heights—literally—as their original design lit up New York City’s Times Square on March 7, 2025, the eve of International Women’s Day.

Seniors Presley Broughton and Paulina Vidal, both graphic design majors in Professor Melinda Posey’s class, designed the massive 10,000-square-foot digital billboard as part of a partnership between CBU and the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative (UN SSE). Displayed on the curved façade of the Nasdaq building, the board included complex visual elements wrapped around more than 25 windows. “We don’t ignore the windows; we design with them,” said Posey.

“This was a huge motivational factor,” said Broughton. “Knowing my work is going toward a meaningful cause that people will see—it really pushed me creatively.” Vidal added, “It’s very daunting. I’m used to my work being in the classroom. Now, thousands of people are seeing it. I feel like I’m on the right path.”

Posey, who began working with the UN SSE eight years ago and joined CBU in 2021, has made it her mission to bring real-world experiences into the classroom. This Times Square debut marks the fourth billboard collaboration between her students and the UN. “From day one, our students know they’ll do hands-on work,” Posey said. “This project gives them a global platform and helps them build competitive portfolios that open doors.” 

This year’s billboard used a sewing and collage-style design to spotlight data on gender equality in CEO and board roles, bringing attention to disparities in corporate leadership.

“The talented students of Christian Brothers University, guided by the exceptional leadership of Prof. Melinda Posey, have done an amazing job once more in creating impactful graphics for International Women’s Day,” said Dr. Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator of the UN SSE. “Their creativity and dedication bring an important message of gender equality to a global stage through the Nasdaq Times Square Board. The UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative is proud to work with such passionate young designers whose work shows how powerful visual storytelling can be in shaping a more equal world for men and women. We appreciate their efforts and look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration in the future.” 

This unique partnership is just one way CBU students embody the University’s mission: Enter to Learn. Leave to Serve.
The Commercial Appeal recently highlighted these efforts in their newspaper. Read their article here: CBU students’ graphic design work with United Nations debuts on Times Square billboard.