Michelle Lemons, MA '01, is the Vice President of the New Mexico Art Education Association and an Itinerant Art Teacher in the Albuquerque Public School District.

Julie Dunker, PostBacc, '04, received her MFA in Painting from Claremont Graduate University and is now an Adjunct Professor of at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Amy Eldridge, MA `06, teaches at Jemez Valley Elementary and Middle School.

Patricio Freire, BA`06, is teaching computer, graphics,ceramics, and sculpture at Manzano High School.

Cinamon Gentry, MA `06 currently teaches with APS as an elementary itinerant art teacher.

Michaela Sorenson, BA `06, is teaching art at an elementary school in Chicago, IL.

Mehrzad Banihashemi, MA ‘05, is an art teacher at Cordova Elementary of Rio Rancho Public Schools.

Veronica Mayer, MA ’05, was recently published in Art Education. Her article entitled “Rediscovering Ruth Faison Shaw and Her Finger-Painting Method” was published in September. The article outlines Shaw’s life, her development of finger painting, and how we as educators can re-examine Shaw’s methods and incorporate them into our own.

Adalucia Quan, MA `05 teaches Spanish at Santa Fe Community College. She has written a Spanish book titled La chica de Mendiburo, which is geared towards middle school and younger adult readers. She has also published a book titled The Magic of Clay which has a website associated with it. www.themagicofclay.com.

Stacia Smith, MA ’05, is the Costume Shop Supervisor for the UNM Department of Theatre and Dance. She also teaches Introduction to Costuming and Makeup Design.

Michelle Zuccaro, MA ‘05, is teaching at Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado. She teaches Jewelry, Ceramics and Painting. She recently attended the Colorado Art Educator’s Association Fall Conference in Pueblo, Colorado.

Jessica Gerschultz, MA ‘04, is currently working on her Ph.D. in Art History, with a focus on contemporary African Art. She was awarded a full five year scholarship from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She teaches a section of Art History 101, and is planning a research trip to Senegal and Kenya this summer.

Sarah Mandala, MA`04 is a ceramics teacher at Oldfields School, Glencoe, MD.

Allison Wermanger (Wade), MA`04, continued her education at Cornell University and graduated with an MFA in 2006. She is currently working as a facilities manager and an adjunct professor in photography at Parson's The New School for Design located in New York City.

Julie Simpkins, MA`03, teaches at Daytop Prep School in Mendham, NJ which is a Rehab Center for Adolescents.

Marilen Morales Seda, MA `02 currently lives in Houston, TX and works at Jackson Intermediate. She also works for the University of Houston as a Student Teacher Supervisor for undergraduate students. While living in New Mexico, she taught Art Ed 214:Art in Elementary and Special Classrooms.

Rachael Astoroga (Hughes), MA ‘96 has taught middle school art in Anaheim, CA. She is currently taking a break from teaching school to raise her two small boys, Liam and Patrick. She is currently living in St. Petersburg, FL. Feel free to contact her at rachaelastorga@yahoo.com.

Sarah Ann “Sally” Bowler-Hill, MA ‘96, is the Information Systems Planner for the UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center. She and her husband Joel welcomed their new baby girl last May.

Anne Cornell, BAED ’96, is teaching art at an elementary school in Austin, TX. She earned her masters in Museum Studies in Boulder. She is currently working on her Educational Administration Certification.

Ivan Wright, BAED ‘71, is retired from teaching after 28 years with APS. He’s been enjoying travel and relaxation. His daughter teaches 3rd grade in San Antonio.

Mary Burnett de Gomez, BFA ‘71 with Art Ed Certification, is the owner of Hanayagi-The Japanese Garden Shop located in Albuquerque. Mary is a master teacher of Ikebana, having received a Master’s Certificate from the Ichiyo School of Design in Tokyo, Japan. Please visit her shop’s web site at www.hanayagi.net.

Peter O'Boyle, BAED '66, was a student of Alexander Masley. He taught art/woodshop at the secondary level in New Laguna, New Mexico. He continued on to earn Masters and Doctorate degrees at the University of Oregon. He has taught at many universities and is now retired and living on the Oregon coast.

Dan Hardin, BAED ’55, went on to earn a MA in Bible from Eastern New Mexico University, a MA in Korean from Seoul’s Central University, an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Oklahoma State University, and a MS in Missions from Abilene Christian University. He has worked in various educational establishments as both an educator and administrator. He has been retired from education since 2000, and is currently a professional painter.

Michelle Lemons (center), MA '01, had two distinguished guests visit her art classroom recently including Dr. Deborah Reeve (R), the Executive Director of the National Art Education Association (NAEA), and Susan Gabbard, a Past President of the NAEA (L). Michelle is the current Vice President of the New Mexico Art Education Association.
 

iOFF Center is a community art space founded by Janis Timm-Bottos a graduate of the Art Education Program at UNM with an emphasis in art therapy. While OFF Center provides for homeless and near homeless artists. Visit online at www.offcenterarts.org.

Detail of a Mosaic Table by Lisa Domenici (MA '05). Lisa is currently working on her doctorate in the Department of Teacher Education at UNM.

Kudos to Veronica Mayer (MA '05) who was recently published in Art Education, the bi-monthly journal of the NAEA. Her article entitled “Rediscovering Ruth Faison Shaw and Her Finger-Painting Method” was published in September. The article outlines Shaw’s life, her development of finger painting, and how we as educators can re-examine Shaw’s methods and incorporate them into our own. Veronica Mayer is currently living in Argentina

Stacia Smith (MA '05) and students from her Makeup Design course. She is currently working for the UNM Department of Theatre and Dance as their costume shop manager and as professor of Introduction to Costuming, and Makeup Design.