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Excellence and Expertise

Record number of Art students develop their professional skills at national conference

Associate Professor of Art Education Stephanie Danker took a record number of students to the National Art Education Association (NAEA) conference in San Antonio, TX.

Excellence and Expertise

Record number of Art students develop their professional skills at national conference

a group of students smiling
Miami University's Art Education student presenters following their Preservice Pecha Kucha session at NAEA. From left to right: Dr. Stephanie Danker (faculty), Lynn Loubert (NAEA Preservice Division Chair), Will McKay, Mia Forte, Jocelyn Taylor, Isa Obradovich, Reilly Powers, and a preservice student supporter.

From April 13-15 this year, Miami University’s associate professor of art education, Stephanie Danker, took a record number of students to the National Art Education Association (NAEA) conference in San Antonio, TX. 

These students and their presentations included: first-year Isabella Obradovich (isabella.drawsss: A Story in Community Engagement); first-year Jocelyn Taylor (Heart to Heart with Art); sophomore Reilly Powers (Radical Education: Community Arts for Social Impact); juniors Mia Forte and Will McKay (Experiencing Cultural Appreciation); and senior Ally McLean (virtually - Teaching Community Art).

Their written proposals went under blind peer review by leaders in their respective fields.

“Each one of their presentations was so different, meaningful to them, and had important insights to share with other art educators,” Danker said. “It gave me so much energy to introduce them to my colleagues from around the country.”

Danker helped them by navigating their school funding, registering them for NAEA and its conference and traveling with them everywhere. A week before the event, Danker supported their practice party, in which they invited classmates, faculty and family to play games, eat food and critique their work.

Reilly submitted her application in May 2022 and got accepted for a 50-minute slot through a peer-review process. Isa, Will, Mia, Jocelyn and Ally received their presentations via the chair of the Preservice Division in NAEA for their work with Preservice Pecha Kucha Presentations. 

Several of the students had already presented at previous conferences and some will progress even further with their content outside of NAEA. Danker applauds them for their significant professional engagement as young undergraduates and thinks this will set them up for success in their careers.

“They have plenty of time to keep developing, expanding and extending on the work that they have already presented nationally,” Danker said. “I know they are inspiring their classmates and will mentor them in the process of presenting at state, regional and national conferences in the future.”

Most of all, Danker feels amazed by their achievements and hopes to keep placing more students in NAEA next year.

“It is a really big deal to have so many undergraduate students presenting at a national conference,” Danker said. “This is pretty unusual.”

For more, check out the vlog Isa and Jocelyn created – it received 1000+ views within the first day of its posting!