Artist Biography
Mary Ventura is graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture from Endicott College. During her time at Endicott, she has earned repeated recognition on the Dean’s list and was inducted into the international Kappa Pi Honor Society. Mary was presented the Kravet Design of Distinction award recognizing her freshman residential studio project. She was also a member of the Endicott College Architecture and Design Club and represented ECAD in their sustainable fashion show. In the spring of 2024, Mary was selected as one of ten individuals to speak at Endicott College’s Inaugural TEDx event, where she delivered her TEDx Talk, “Rewiring the Brain: Accepting Emotional Discomfort,” sharing her transformative encounter with an anxiety disorder. Prior to enrolling at Endicott, Mary graduated with her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Cape Cod Community College before obtaining her Residential Interior Design Qualification Certification through the Designer Society of America. She has worked alongside various high-end residential design firms on Cape Cod and Boston in and outside of her academic internships. Following graduation, Mary plans to expand her design experience and enthusiasm for personal wellness in exploring humanitarian design.
Thesis Abstract
How can a community serve as a safe haven to nurture and embrace the mental and physical wellness of each woman’s evolution through her past, present, and future self?
Mary’s thesis is driven by her passion for women’s mental health and overall well-being. Through navigating personal mental adversities, her interest has grown in raising awareness and providing support to women who are struggling in silence and isolation, in all aspects of womanhood. As an advocate for personal reinvention and the building of meaningful connections through the human experience, Mary’s thesis aims to bring awareness and resources to women seeking to renew and enhance their lives.
As the world becomes increasingly complex, women are often overwhelmed and trapped in a cycle of uncertainty. The physical, mental, and emotional challenges women encounter on their journeys leave them craving a safe space where they can feel armed and nurtured. Awaken strives to be that safe place, offering accessible support to women who lack it. Whether navigating domestic struggles, body image issues, social relationships, or exploring new interests, women and a sense of home at Awaken. By laying the foundation for an adaptable, diverse community, individuals come to accept their past, build confidence in their present, and hope in the future they are uncovering.