- Molloy helped her combine two passions: O'Connor studied earth and environmental studies while minoring in art, chemistry and Spanish, with encouragement from professor John Tanacredi.
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Her aquarium career blended science and art: After working as an aquarist, she moved into exhibit design and created aquatic-themed murals, including a large three-dimensional octopus mural.
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She continues to inspire creativity through education: O'Connor earned a master's degree in art education and now teaches students in third through sixth grades at a Long Island public school.
An enormous octopus stretches across the exterior of the Long Island Aquarium, its tentacles winding along the building and one arm extending three-dimensionally from the roof. For visitors passing by, the larger-than-life mural offers a glimpse of the marine life waiting inside. For its creator, Molloy University alumna Drew Anne O'Connor ’21, it represents something more personal: the intersection of two lifelong passions.
Long before she began transforming the aquarium's walls into works of art, O'Connor was a college student struggling to choose between science and creativity.
When she first arrived at Molloy, O'Connor was undecided about her major. She loved learning about the natural world but had always considered herself an artist at heart. Rather than abandon either interest, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in earth and environmental studies, with minors in art, chemistry and Spanish.
At the time, she envisioned a future working in science while pursuing her artistic interests independently. However, encouragement from a Molloy professor helped her recognize that the two disciplines did not have to remain separate.
Dr. John Tanacredi, her academic adviser and science professor, played an influential role in shaping that perspective. While supporting her scientific ambitions, he consistently encouraged her to continue developing her artistic abilities.
During O'Connor's first internship at Molloy's Center for Environmental Research and Coastal Oceans Monitoring (CERCOM), Tanacredi gave her the opportunity to design and paint a mural. He later invited her to illustrate his published book, "The Redesigned Earth."
These experiences helped O'Connor discover new possibilities for combining her interests, laying the groundwork for a career she had not yet imagined.
During her senior year in 2021, O'Connor began an internship as an aquarist at the Long Island Aquarium, where she helped care for aquatic animals, including fish, sharks, rays and cephalopods.
After graduating from Molloy, she was hired by the aquarium and continued working closely with its marine life. Although she enjoyed the experience, particularly her interactions with octopuses, she eventually began considering a different professional direction.
An opportunity to transition into the aquarium's exhibit design department offered the change she was looking for.
As an exhibit designer, O'Connor helped build and maintain animal habitats, gaining hands-on experience with large-scale installations and materials such as cement, epoxy and fiberglass. The position allowed her to apply her scientific knowledge while expanding her artistic skills in ways she had never anticipated.
Her growing experience in exhibit design eventually led to another opportunity when the aquarium asked her to help revitalize its exterior walls with aquatic-themed murals.
For O'Connor, the project was a natural extension of the work she had already come to love.
Among her creations, her favorite is a massive octopus mural featuring a three-dimensional arm that appears to emerge from the building's roof. The project was particularly meaningful because octopuses had been among her favorite animals to work with during her time as an aquarist.
Beyond creating something visually striking, O'Connor hopes her artwork inspires visitors to develop a greater appreciation for marine life.
"I hope that when people see my murals they become curious to learn more about the animals inside the aquarium, and more importantly learn to love wildlife and treat all animals with kindness," she said.
Today, O'Connor has taken her creativity in another direction, working as an art teacher for students in third through sixth grades at a Long Island public school.
After earning a master's degree in art education, she found herself pursuing a profession she had never considered during her undergraduate years. Although teaching was not part of her original career plan, it has become another rewarding way to share her passion for creativity.
"I love being able to teach young students how they can do anything with their imagination and creativity!" O'Connor said.
Her role allows her to help students develop their artistic abilities while encouraging them to experiment, imagine and discover their own interests. It also provides opportunities to continue pursuing her personal artwork outside the classroom.
Looking back, O'Connor credits her willingness to explore different interests and embrace new experiences with helping her build a career that reflects who she is. From environmental science and marine animal care to exhibit design, mural painting and education, each experience has contributed to the next, even when the connections were not immediately apparent.
For current Molloy students who may be uncertain about their futures, she encourages an open mind and a willingness to pursue opportunities beyond their original plans.
"If there's anything you're interested in, take a class or join a club! If you find a cool internship somewhere, apply for it!" she said. "Never say no to an opportunity that will expand your knowledge or give you in-the-field experience. Anything can become a stepping stone to something more awesome!"
For O'Connor, that philosophy has transformed what once seemed like a choice between two passions into a career shaped by both.
