Miami graduate and Fulbright Fellow presents work at U.S. Embassy in Ghana
Rachelle Swan’s ‘24 research gave her opportunity to teach in Ghana
Miami graduate and Fulbright Fellow presents work at U.S. Embassy in Ghana
Rachelle Swan’s ‘24 research gave her opportunity to teach in Ghana
Rachelle Swan waited three years to take ART 335: Arts of West Africa, a class taught by associate professor of Art History Jordan Fenton that explores the visual and performed expressions of West Africa.
It was definitely worth the wait – and led to an incredible opportunity for Swan. The 2024 Miami University graduate recently completed her Fulbright Fellowship in Ghana, which culminated with Swan presenting her research at the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
Swan’s presentation, “Africa in Art Education: Learning through Ghana’s Artistic Perspective,” examined contemporary art, traditional art, and art education, and offered her the opportunity to teach in Ghana.
“You can find art in everyday life, even in the way food is cooked,” Swan said. “There is so much rich culture and art in everything there.”
It’s that perspective Swan intends to bring back and infuse into her teaching in the U.S. She hopes to develop a curriculum that communicates Ghanaian art in a respectful way.
“Our world is getting smaller, especially with so much access to social media. It’s important to have an accurate lens of other cultures,” Swan said.
Swan earned her Miami degree in Art Education and works as the youth program manager at ArtsConnect, an arts center where she leads youth programs and develops curriculum for art classes and camps and works with community engagement.
In her nine months in Ghana, Swan also collaborated with several artists on projects, including fashion design, a particular interest, though she is also skilled in sewing, fashion illustration, painting, and ceramics. The trip turned into a family experience, with Swan’s sons, ages 9 and 11, also traveling to Ghana.
“We are so grateful she had this opportunity,” said Stephanie Danker, associate professor of Art Education. “It’s such a wonderful thing and something other Miami students can work toward and see how they can also make an impact. Rachelle did a great job documenting her experiences through Instagram, which is so valuable in reaching other audiences and showing the power of connecting with people in Ghana.”
Swan described her presentation, which lasted nearly 2 hours, as “exciting but bittersweet.” It was a project and experience she’s worked for during the last three years.
“It made me feel both extremely proud and extremely humbled,” Swan said. “Seeing everyone show up to support me made me realize it’s not really the end. It’s a new beginning and a new opportunity opening up for something I’m passionate about.”
Fenton, a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar in 2009-2010, was instrumental in helping Swan navigate the Fulbright process.
“His class definitely inspired me and introduced me to the Fulbright,” Swan said, noting it took about a year for the application process.
Added Danker: “The support of Jordan Fenton was really valuable in this because it’s his area of expertise. It gives students in the arts a way to look at possibilities for their future and how an Art Education degree can be expanded on in so many ways.”
Her time in Ghana was a pivotal point for Swan. It’s important for her to synthesize her work there and make it useful and beneficial.
“Part of the project was to broaden the definition of art and how art can be in everyday life, as well as broadening the definition of education and how we can be lifelong learners,” Swan said. “I feel very fulfilled and motivated to continue the work that I’ve done.”