EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

August 2009

Master of Science in Art Education
Massachusetts College of Art & Design : Boston, Massachusetts

May 2002

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education
College of Visual & Performing Arts and School of Education : Syracuse, New York

Feb 2005

Massachusetts Initial Certification : Visual Arts, PreK - 12
Massachusetts Department of Education

AWARDS

2006

Power of Art : Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities
The Lab School of Washington

A two-day workshop, sponsored by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, in which a select group of art educators from across the country learned effective methods of using art to teach students with learning disabilities, while visiting the Lab School’s innovative campus. Highlights included working with director Sally Smith and meeting Christopher Rauschenberg

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2004-present

Special Needs K-12 Visual Arts Teacher
Doctor Franklin Perkins School, Lancaster, Massachusetts
        
Key Responsibilities

• Teach a population of students with a wide range of mental and emotional disabilities, including Asperger’s Disorder, ADHD, Autism, PTSD, ODD, Bipolar Disorder, and Dyslexia
• Maintain accurate records of assessment, behavioral data, treatment conference comments, budgetary expenditures and incident reports

        
Professional Service to Agency

• Cultural Diversity Education Committee, co-founder and chair, 2005-present. Committee meets need of delivering educative programs to students and staff in area of Cultural Diversity throughout agency
• Strategic Planning Team, 2007. Inter-departmental taskforce for determining the agency’s trajectory in fulfilling its mission and meeting the needs of clients in the contemporary moment
• Summerfest Planning Committee, 2005-present, coordinator for 2007. Team designs and implements a six-week curriculum for the organization’s annual summer session
• Youth Art Month Planning Committee, MAEA-sponsored event, 2007 and 2009. Member of planning committee for 2007 and 2009 Youth Art Month celebration at the Worcester Art Museum. In 2009, designed and distributed announcement postcards for events

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2004

Art Instructor
New Art Center, Newton, Massachusetts
        
Key Responsibilities

• Planned and led Saturday morning art lessons for young children, ages 2-5
• Collaborated with artists, parents and administrators of New Art Center

2003-2004

Assistant Resident Director
Housing & Residential Life, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
        
Key Responsibilities

• Co-Supervised a student staff of 18 Community Advisors, facilitating weekly staff meetings, conducting biweekly one-on-one supervisory meetings, and fostering leadership development
• Advised student-representative Hall Council in implementing educational and community-development programming within a first-year residence hall                 

2002-2003

Assistant Residence Director
Office of Residential Life, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
        
Key Responsibilities

• Administratively responsible for housing placements and facilities management within three residence halls, accounting for more than 800 residents
• Managed two distinct Main Desk operations within two residence halls. Supervised twenty-five student employees, directed budgetary spending, and maintained mail operations for three residence halls
• Co-advised a staff of 13 resident advisors, attending weekly staff meetings and fostering their individual leadership development. Worked together with the staff to create hall-wide programming initiatives

EXHIBITION RECORD

Aug 2009

MSAE Thesis Show 2009
Arnheim Gallery : Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts

June 2009

Members Summer Show
Arts/Wayland : Wayland Library, Wayland, Massachusetts

April 2009

New Boston Artists
Kick for Nick Benefit: Allston, Massachusetts

March-April 2009

Student Gallery
Computer Arts Center: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts

Nov 2008

Que Fenomenal: Teaching Artists' Experiences in Ecuador
Arnheim Gallery : Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts

Sept 2008

Members Show
Arts/Wayland: Wayland Library, Wayland, Massachusetts

CONFERENCES/PRESENTATIONS

April 2009

The Hidden Curriculum of the Art Room
National Art Education Association National Convention : Minneapolis, Minnesota
Exposed participants to the concept of an art classroom’s Hidden Curriculum and its inherent challenges for students on the Autism Spectrum, especially those with Aspergers Syndrome

Prior presentations at Rhode Island Art Education Association Fall Conference, West Warwick, Rhode Island, November 2008, and Massachusetts Art Education Association Spring Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, May 2008.

April 2007

Art Appreciation in an American Idol World
National Art Education Association National Convention : New York, New York
Discussed art educators’ changing roles in adapting to students’ evolving interaction with the Arts, particularly with advancements in technology, such as WIKIs and Web 2.0

Prior presentation at Massachusetts Art Education Association Fall Conference, Sturbridge, Massachusetts, November 2006.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2000-present

National Art Educators' Association

2005-present

Massachusetts Art Educators' Association

2007-present

Council for Exceptional Children

2008-present

Arts/Wayland