Feature Story
From SVU’s Hill to Buena Vista’s Valley: How Ally Haney is Designing the City’s Future
Art has always been a passion for Ally Haney (’23), but she never expected it to become her degree, let alone her career. Now, three years after graduation, Haney is helping shape the future of Buena Vista by serving as an economic development and marketing assistant, a role that for the past two years has allowed her to leverage her passion and degree to modernize the city’s identity.
When Haney arrived at Southern Virginia University from her hometown of Ithaca, New York, she wasn’t sure what to do with her life. She loved art and creativity, but like many students, she worried whether those interests could lead to a meaningful career. Torn between her creative desires and practical concerns, she initially leaned toward a starkly different career path.
“I liked art and being crafty, but everyone tells you that you can’t make money in that — that you need to get a ‘real job,’” said Haney. “So I was actually planning to be a biochemistry major when it came to picking a degree, a complete 180 from what I would have liked to do.”
During her first semester, SVU launched its Graphic Design program. Intrigued by the possibility of turning her passion into a profession, Haney became one of the program’s first students studying under Professor Jacob Ricks.
While at SVU, Haney also worked part-time creating design templates for Jesse Whipple in the university’s alumni office. Looking back, she credits mentors like Ricks and Whipple with encouraging her to see possibilities she hadn’t considered before.
That experience and encouragement proved pivotal after graduation. When the City of Buena Vista opened up a position in its economic development department, Whipple immediately called Haney, who was then working as a tailor for the Virginia Military Institute.
“Jesse told me, ‘Ally, you need to apply for this,’” Haney said. “I had no idea what the job even was. But Jessi knew the city team, she loved the director, Kristina Ramsey, and Professor Ricks also pushed me, telling me to go be a designer and do something with my degree.”
Today, Haney manages the city’s social media presence, collaborates with Lexington Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce, and manages community engagement efforts, including Connect BV, an annual event that introduces SVU students to local businesses.
One of her most significant projects has been leading the creation of a comprehensive branding guide that standardized fonts, colors, and logos across city departments, establishing a more visual, cohesive, and professional identity for Buena Vista. She has also modernized reports, refreshed staff photography, and elevated the city’s communication materials.
For Haney, working for Buena Vista is more than just marketing and design. It’s about investing in a community that has firmly captured her heart.
“I honestly get emotional at the thought of leaving BV,” said Haney. “I want to stay here for as long as I physically can. The people are so friendly. It’s a place where you can walk down the street, see five people you know, and immediately start catching up about their kids, their jobs, or the cookies they made last Sunday. You just can’t get that close personal connection anywhere else, and I’m so happy to be here.”