‘Creativity Belongs to Everyone’ with Abbi Kneuss ‘22
In this special-edition student profile, we highlight Abigail (Abbi) Kneuss, a senior majoring in Communications who has been working in the Office of Marketing and Communications since 2019. Abbi started our ‘for students, by students’ profile series on Pulse@ChathamU, and over the years she has showcased student leaders, athletes, organizers, artists, and more. You can read the full archive of Abbi’s work here. In honor of all the stellar work Abbi has done in our office over the last few years and her wide accomplishments as a student, we’re featuring her in her very own student profile. Read on to get to know all things Abbi—
Abbi Kneuss ‘22
Abbi Kneuss found her way to Chatham by chance. After growing up on a farm in rural Ohio, she was craving city life: “I was really anti going to a small school because I'm from a small town. A friend of mine from home told me about Chatham. I was coming to Pittsburgh to tour Point Park, and I added Chatham on for the day. When I came onto campus, I fell in love with it, [especially] the commitment to sustainability and women's leadership. I felt like there was the ability to learn in all kinds of disciplines.”
Since she arrived in Pittsburgh in 2019, a lot has happened to Abbi and to the world. Her undergraduate career coincided with a global pandemic that changed just about everything. For Abbi, this seismic cultural shift was punctuated by her own experiences: a newfound enthusiasm for roller skating, a summer spent as a camp counselor in the Rocky Mountains, tons of virtual classes, an epic re-branding of The Minor Bird (Chatham’s literary magazine), three internships in three years, and a chance to be exactly who she wants to be. But to say ‘things happen to’ Abbi would be a misnomer—she is a doer, a learner, a mover, and a shaker.
Abbi is a triple Virgo (sun/moon/rising) and it shows. As an interdisciplinary major in Communications and Marketing as well as co-editor-in-chief of The Minor Bird, Marketing Intern at Brookline Teen Outreach, and Copywriter for the Office of Marketing and Communications, she has used her time in college to explore the wide range of applications for her degree:
“I'm someone who wants to do everything and communications is one of those super broad degrees where you can really go into every industry. I enjoy writing, talking to people, and connecting with people. [At Chatham], I've learned a lot about how to tell a story and how to connect to people.”
As a result, she is well-versed in the impact that authentic and thoughtful communication can have on the intended recipients: “How do I use communication to create accessibility and make sure that I am telling the stories of a lot of people? A big interest of mine is taking that into the world of academia. I’d like to continue my studies, hopefully pursuing grad school and trying to find a program that looks at the connection between equity and communication.”
Abbi on the day she officially committed to Chatham
to live and let love, a collage by Abbi that will be featured in the 2022 edition of The Minor Bird
At The Minor Bird, Abbi and her co-editor-in-chief and best friend, John Mamas ‘23 collaborated in hopes of making the historic literary magazine more accessible to unpublished writers and non-English majors: “I wanted to make sure that people knew that this was a place for beginnings, [where you could] see your work published for the first time. A lot of that has been [creating] fun events on campus and doing outreach to people across majors. We have over 40 people featured in The Minor Bird across [something like] 45 different disciplines. It shows that creativity belongs to everyone.”
John Mamas and Abbi at the launch of the 2021 edition of The Minor Bird
But even as a high-achieving student with a strong support system, completing your undergraduate degree during a time of unprecedented tragedy and uncertainty is bound to have an impact on your wellbeing. Abbi had to find creative ways to bolster her mental health, including spending last summer working as a camp counselor in the Rocky Mountains. For two months, she lived in an uninsulated cabin in the mountains and helped kids navigate mountain living as she herself learned to navigate it. She found that uncomfortable period to be wildly enriching: “I realized how tough I can be,” she says. Nature proved to be a constant anchor and creative inspiration for Abbi over this tumultuous period—she spent time sleeping under the stars in the Rockies, people-watching in Mellon Park, and returning to the coziness of her family farm in Ohio. Now, as she heads into a new phase of life, she is considering what horizons will be next:
“I want to teach at the collegiate level. I love how professors are professionals but also people that help direct you and continuously dedicate themselves to learning. Creatively, I want to start pairing my artwork and writing together. I recently had a discussion with my roommate about how creating art and writing can be a way of translating our inner worlds. I think that's really difficult work that people don't value. I want to find a way to get people to value it.”
Her time at Chatham afforded her vital friendships, important professional mentorships, and perspective. As she prepares to graduate this month, she plans on taking a few things with her: “My experience of being in college during this time has taught me about what matters in life. I'm going to be leaving with a lot of things to carry with me for the rest of my life.”
And in true Abbi fashion, she is leaving a few pieces of advice behind to ensure that the Chatham community continues to thrive. We’d recommend taking notes on these Abbi-isms:
“Ask yourself why you are doing something. Are you doing it for others or are you doing it because you really enjoy it? There is no way that you can be pigeonholed into one major that's going to encompass everything that you do. Try to enjoy this time and use it to figure out what you like. Continue to figure out what you like throughout your whole life. Learn as much as you can outside of class.
Be true to yourself. And be critical of everything—not in a cynical way. Continue to advocate for where you want [Chatham] to go. Continue to work to make it a space for everyone.”
Special thanks to Abbi for this interview and all of the outstanding work she has done at Chatham. We will miss you and we can’t wait to see what you do next!