Written by Rachael Dubinsky

Kailey Caballero, BFA ’26 Animation, is ready to take on the world of animation — and she has the vision, skills, and confidence to do it. With a powerful creative voice, sharp technical expertise, and a drive to lead, Kailey is shaping herself into a future powerhouse in the industry.

That transformation grew out of her time at MassArt, where she found the environment, mentors, and programs that helped her turn raw talent into refined artistry.

Kailey immersed herself in the community at MassArt early on in her second year. She became a Primer to welcome and guide first-years, then stepped into leadership roles such as Student Government Association (SGA) representative for Animation, planning events and running the animation students’ social media. She discovered that leadership, like animation, is an act of storytelling: listening, connecting, and building community.

And Kailey’s creativity goes far beyond campus. This past summer, she worked at Lavner Education at Boston University, teaching art workshops and managing student groups at a STEM-focused camp. She combined her love of art and education with hands-on leadership, expanding her ability to inspire others.

In the studio, Kailey credits faculty mentors like Liz Keene, who challenged her to push boundaries in 2D animation and refine her storytelling. Outside academics, her friends, family and SGA colleagues have taken her to new bounds. Now, as she enters her senior year, she’s tackling her thesis project: a hand-drawn animated short that captures the humor and chaos of life with roommates. It’s a perfect blend of her technical fluency, creative instincts, and personal narrative.