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The National Art Education Association gave two of its five fellowships to UA faculty members Lynn Beudert and Elizabeth Garber, both professors in the School of Art.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
June 5, 2009

University of Arizona faculty members in the School of Art took two of five honors granted by the National Art Education Association for exemplary teaching.

Lynn Beudert and Elizabeth J. Garber, both art professors at the UA, were named Distinguished Fellows by the national association. In 2005, Maurice Sevigny – the dean of the College of Fine Arts – also received the honor.

Beudert and Garber were recognized alongside faculty and educators from Oklahoma City Public Schools, the University of Texas at Austin, Ohio State University and Purdue University.

"To have three fellows among the UA arts education faculty is quite rare," said Jaime Martin, a program coordinator for the UA School of Art.

Each year, the National Art Education Association selects and honors only five fellows from its membership pool of more than 20,000 people. The honor goes to those who have a distinguished reputation in the area of arts education.

Beudert, a professor in the division of art and visual culture education, has been a member of the UA faculty since 1989. Her teaching and research interest is art teacher education with a focus on international arts education and preparing pre-service teachers.

"To be recognized by such a distinguished group of peers for my research and service within the profession is, in many ways, a pinnacle of my career," Beudert said.

Previously, Beudert received the National Arts Education Association's National Higher Education Art Educator of the Year Award and its Pacific Region Higher Education Art Educator Award. She also received the UA College of Fine Arts Charles and Irene Putman Award for Excellence in Teaching.

"This award was even more special for me, however, as my colleague, Elizabeth Garber, received it at the same time," she added. "We have spent many years together as colleagues and friends in the field, and to share this experience with her is truly wonderful."

Garber's research focuses on social justice education, particularly in areas that pertain to multiculturalism, feminism and gender.

In 2000, Garber served as a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Art and Design Helsinki. While there, she studied craft education in Finland.

In 2002, she earned the Pacific Higher Education Art Educator Award and was elected to the Council for Policy Studies in Art Education.

Beudert said the UA school has a "marvelous community of students and faculty members" which makes for "joyous and special" teaching and other interactions.

"I am always excited by helping both undergraduate and graduate students realize their potential as art and visual culture educators in schools, museums and community arts settings," Beudert said.

"The visual arts are essential and rich components of our diverse society and culture; we must never lose sight of how they contribute to and sustain our humanity. It is a privilege to prepare educators who will help children, youth and adults learn about, enjoy and value the visual arts in their lives"