Originally from Africa, Michael Akuamoah-Boateng is using his skills as a graphic designer to reconnect with his Ghanaian heritage.

Michael came to the United States to study graphic design after graduating from high school. He moved to Syracuse with his family and attended a community college there for two years and transferred to New Paltz.

"I always wanted to be an artist and the United States has a wider collection of people from around the world studying graphic design," said Michael, who hopes to establish himself in the industry and then start his own graphic design firm in Ghana.

He is now working on his senior thesis, which concentrates on defining a visual language for African graphic design. "In older days," Michael explained, "oral tradition was used to tell stories in Africa." For his thesis, he plans to create images based on these oral traditions and use text to describe African culture.

In his free time, Michael is an active member of the International Student Union (ISU) and Campus Crusade for Christ. He is the public relations officer for ISU and has created many of their flyers and assisted in the development of their Web site.

Why New Paltz: Michael was attracted to New Paltz because of its large international program.

Hobbies: Plays the guitar, soccer, rides his bike, swims up in the mountains

Little-known Fact: Michael speaks four languages