Faculty
News

  • Assistant Professor Karen Watkins presented a peer reviewed paper at the SEGD (Society of Experiential Graphic Design) 2020 annual Academic Summit. The Summit is a global forum for trends in design education research, projects and curriculum innovation. Participants included experiential designers, museum professionals, university deans, and professors from Tasmania, Istanbul, New Delhi, Vancouver, Mexico City, Winnipeg, WenZhou, Riga, Mumbai, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Brisbane, and states across the U.S.
  • Associate Professor Kate Stewart of the College of Arts and Humanities has been awarded a 2019 artist residency at the Golden Paint Foundation. The Golden Foundation Residency Program is specifically designed to assist the professional artist in discovering and exploring the many materials and technologies available today. Residents have the unparalleled opportunity to work with dozens of unique materials and technologies. This year, The Golden Foundation chose 18 artists out of 320 applicants to participate in this competitive and unique opportunity.
  • Assistant Professor Jeremy Holmes accolades for his most recent book:
    • "The Eye that Never Sleeps" by Marissa Moss. Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
    • ALSC’s Notable Children’s Books of 2019
    • Star Review - Publishers Weekly
    • Star Review - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Book
    • Star Review - School Library Connection
    • Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly
    • Best Books of 2018 New York Public Library
    • Best Informational Books of 2018 Chicago Public Library
    • Best Books of 2018 by Cooperative Children's Book Center
    • Art chosen for Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibition, NYC
    • Finalist for Pop Culture Classroom Graphic Literature Award (to be chosen June 1st)
  • Assistant Professor Scotty Reifsnyder’s Art 400 Design for Social Good (first time offering Fall 18) students were tasked with designing murals for two sites on campus that provide community service and inclusion. Both murals have been recently installed in their locations.
    • The WCU Resource Pantry eliminates barriers to degree completion for students with financial need by providing access to resources, while empowering students to learn independent living skills and achieve long-term stability. The winning student designers are seniors Natalie Radbill and Thomas Lis.
    • D-CAP student-led convenience store on campus. The Ram Shop provides a unique opportunity for students with autism to learn the needed skills for success in obtaining and maintaining a job. The winning student designers are seniors Kayla Degenshein and Taylor Goad.
  • In collaboration with Department of Grounds Manager Josh Braid, Professor Kate Stewart has designed and received approval for a Campus Natural Dye Garden. The garden will be installed at the High Street entrance of E.O. Bull Center for the Arts and will serve as an educational space for the community to learn about the history, sustainability and practice of natural dyeing techniques. Professor Stewart will be leading a workshop for interested members of the campus and local community to learn more about natural dyeing techniques in fall 2019.
  • Associate Professor Andrew Snyder and the ceramics students raised $2000 Empty Bowls proceeds went to Safety Harbor of Chester county.
  • Assistant Professor Scotty Reifsnyder, has been hired as an Assistant Professor of Graphic + Interactive Deign. A self-described creative, illustrator, designer and visual adventurer, Scotty brings a considerable amount of experience to the department. He earned his MFA in Graphic + Interactive Design from Tyler School of Art and has 18 years of professional design and illustration experience. His clients include Chronicle Books, Disney/Pixar, GQ, Time Magazine, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. His creative work has earned him accolades from Communication Arts, American Illustration, and Print Magazine. Prior to starting his own design company, he worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for four years at Philadelphia based Headcase Design. Scotty has been teaching as an adjunct in the Department of Art + Design for the last year and has 9 years of teaching experience at the University of Pennsylvania.
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