Pam Stephens, winner of the NAEA Student Chapter Sponsor Award of Excellence Kim Lincoln, winner of the NAEA Higher Education Student Achievement Award, hard at work in the NAU printing studio

Art educators receive prestigious
national awards

Northern Arizona University's reputation as a premier institution for art educators is growing stronger thanks to a student and teacher who will receive awards from the National Art Education Association at its national convention in Chicago, March 22-26.

Pam Stephens, assistant professor of art education, will be awarded the 2006 Student Chapter Sponsor Award of Excellence and art education senior Kim Lincoln will receive the 2006 Higher Education Student Achievement Award.

Stephens' award recognizes her dedication to the development of future professional members of the NAEA through sponsorship of an outstanding chapter group at a college or university. Stephens has a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and metalsmithing, a master's and a doctorate degree in art education and a certificate in museum studies. These days her creative outlet is writing (see sidebar).

Dropping in on Pam Stephens Pam Stephens' writing opens doors for young people to enjoy and understand art. Her series of books and videos, including Dropping in on Picasso, Dropping in on Rousseau and Dropping in on Grant Wood transports young readers into the homes and lives of master artists. She is currently awaiting the soon to be published, Dropping in on Andy Warhol. Stephens also has written a children's book about tessellations (interlocking designs) and is co-author of a book about interdisciplinary connections for teachers. She writes a monthly column for School Arts magazine and sits on its advisory board. She has published two dozen articles in professional journals and magazines, two teacher guides for traveling and permanent exhibitions in art museums, resource guides, numerous interdisciplinary lesson and two art games. Stephens was a contributing writer for two nationally adopted art textbooks and a consultant for one secondary art text. She served as editor for Trends, the Journal of Texas Art Education Association and the Texas Art Association newsletter. Stephens' latest manuscript "A Real Community Bridge: Informing Community-based learning Through a Model of Participatory Public Art," was published in the March issue of the Journal of the National Art Education Association.

Chapter president Nereida Luzietti said it's easy to be inspired when Stephens is teaching. "Pam is always pushing her students to set the bar higher than expected so we can achieve our goals with great success and pride," Luzietti said.

Lincoln's award recognizes her excellence in professional accomplishment and service. Lincoln, NAU's NAEA student chapter vice president, is currently student teaching in Virginia. She has won several scholarships, two research awards and is published in leading art education magazines.

"I'm not surprised Kim's work is being recognized," Stephens said. "She is smart and compassionate. She is the kind of teacher you would want your child to have."

Stephens said the NAEA chapter at NAU is ripe with talent.

"In my opinion my award is to honor the outstanding NAEA chapter on campus more than it is to honor me," Stephens said. "My students participate in activities that are above and beyond what is typically expected of students in an undergraduate program. Three of our students will present papers at the national conference, which is an unusual honor for undergraduates."

Chapter members Maggie Smola, Denise Horton and Lydia Phelps will present two papers at the convention, "Understanding the Sacred," on the subject of representing culturally significance items in artwork and "Give Me a Meaningful Voice," featuring ways to encourage critical thinking in young students. To attend the conference, students raised their own money through raffles and obtained funds from the NAU Student Travel Grant. Chapter members keep in touch through an online classroom dedicated to meetings, sharing classroom activities and thoughts about issues affecting art education.

"NAEA is an important organization for art educators because it keeps us up to date on leading ways to improve art education in this country," Stephens said. "It also gives students a leg up on networking. At the convention they will get to meet the movers and shakers in the art education world."

Founded in 1947, NAEA membership is 22,000 strong. It includes elementary, secondary, middle level and high school art teachers in 50 states, representatives from art museums, state departments of education, art councils and major colleges and universities throughout the United States and 66 foreign countries.