FSU Friends and Alumni Reception at NAEA Recap

March 17th through to the 19th, faculty and students in the Department of Art Education traveled to Chicago, IL to attend the National Art Education Association Convention (NAEA). As part of the festivities, the Department hosted a Friends and Alumni reception at the Elephant Room on Friday, March 18th. The Elephant Room is an art gallery that focuses on exhibiting Chicago-based artists.

Every year, the Department hosts this reception to bring together FSU alumni, faculty, and students for lovely evening of mingling and friendship. Over 90 alumni and friends of the Department were in attendance. The reception is considered an amazing opportunity to stay connected with each other and see what is happening in and outside of the classroom.

Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Exhibition‘s Master’s student Morgan Szymanski said, “It was an awesome opportunity to meet people who went through the program and are currently working in the field! Talking to them showed me how what I’m learning in school can really be applied to the ‘real world.'”

Department Chair, Dr. Dave Gussak, warmly welcomed everyone to the reception, and introduced new faculty member Dr. Rachel Fendler. Dr. Fendler said, “The reception this year brought together a fun group of people with close ties to the Art Education Department, in particular I really enjoyed finding out where our Art Education alums are now. I spoke to all sorts of professionals, ranging from professors at different universities to museum educators to late and early career art teachers. It was nice to finally put a face to familiar names and get a chance to introduce myself. I feel like I have been officially welcomed into the family!”

The Department of Art Education would like to especially thank Art Education PhD candidate Cindy Jesup for organizing the event. She stated that “the most enjoyable part of the reception was seeing colleagues and friends having a good time and visiting with each other.”