Two alumni of the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Maine College of Art & Design were recognized by the Maine Art Education Association for their contributions to the field of art education at the association's spring conference at the University of Maine, Orono.
Philippa Adam '21
Philippa Adam '21 received the 2024 "New to the Profession Art Educator of the Year" award. Philippa is an art teacher at Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she teaches various elective courses, including Art 1, Dungeons and Dragons Illustration, Sculpture: Flora and Fauna, and more. When asked what she likes best about teaching, she explains, "My favorite thing about teaching is giving students a safe place to experiment with art and who they are. I love having kids who had negative experiences in art find their creative voice and see how art can benefit their lives."
Rachel Carswell '23
Rachel Carswell '23 was honored as the 2023 Preservice Art Educator of the Year. Rachel teaches art at Biddeford Middle School in Biddeford, Maine, where she instructs students in grades 5-8 in Foundations of Art—an introductory course that includes learning about art history and various art mediums. When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she shares, "I love working with kids. More importantly, I love working with my students and watching them evolve and grow into themselves. It is rewarding as a teacher to see your students enjoying the process and recognizing the endless opportunities the visual arts offer them. I'm only a small part of their journey, but I think it's pretty cool."
"Congratulations to both of these shining star art educators," says Dr. Rachel Somerville, Chair of the MAT program. "Maine College of Art & Design is proud of all you have accomplished, your service to your students and community, and all that lies ahead in your careers."