Featuring Mia Birch of Omaha, Neb., who is majoring in Interior Design at Wayne State.
Wayne State College’s charm and small size – yet being close to home – is what attracted Mia Birch to campus. The senior from Omaha, Neb., who is studying Interior Design at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Student Spotlight Series.
“Compared to Omaha, Wayne State was the downsize I needed to help me focus on my studies,” said Birch. “The connections I have built with faculty and friends have been welcoming and genuine. I have a great support system here.”
While she’s always had an eye for design, Birch said an activity in high school gave her a push toward a career in design.
“I was in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) at Omaha Central High School, which was a marketing club, and that helped me with being creative,” said Birch. “I decided to explore interior design, and I loved it. My mom and I would visit furniture stores and model homes and envision how we would decorate them.”
Wayne State’s Interior Design degree program helps students develop their artistic, interpersonal, and management skills. They learn design principles, color theory, space planning, construction techniques, and technical drawing using industry-standard software so they can work on real-world design projects.
An Interior Design degree from Wayne State can open a wide range of careers in a variety of settings including residential and commercial spaces, television and film sets, museums and galleries, and even furniture and textile companies.
At Wayne State, Birch is co-president of the It’s On Us organization, which raises awareness about sexual and interpersonal violence, designs measures to help prevent it from happening, and supports survivors.
Birch will graduate in May 2026. She intends to pursue a career with a housing development company and create floor plans.
Fun Fact: “I was a flamenco dancer for four years in high school. I also traveled to different countries in Europe this summer.”