Presiding over 13 states, a Missouri State professor of art and coordinator for the art education program has received recognition from the Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education and elected to the position of western region representative.
Last spring, Judith Fowler was one of at least eight nominees for this position. She has been an active member of CSAE for two years.
“Being elected to this position by the CSAE membership is quite an honor,” Fowler said.
The western region has the largest membership in the organization including Arizona, Arkansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Indiana, North Dakota, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, South Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin and Missouri.
“At the time I was notified of the position, I didn’t realize how many states the western region covered,” Fowler explained. “Facilitating meetings and communicating with art educators from so many states will be really exciting.”
Because the western region covers such a large group of states, Fowler shares this position with Nancy Brady, a colleague from the University of New Mexico.
Fowler has been teaching for over 45 years in higher education, 16 of which have been with the Missouri State art and design department. She is a nationally registered art therapist and has a main emphasis in art therapy with terminally ill patients as well as with adults and children in emotional distress.
“This position will most definitely impact the students in my art education classes, as it will give them insight into art education practices in the western region,” Fowler said.
In addition to her teaching experience, Fowler has an extensive publishing record. With a total of 25 juried presentations, she has been presenting on the national level for the National Art Education Association since 1998. This year, her presentation, “Turning Full Circle: Recapturing Our Creative Spirit in Studio,” was accepted for the 2011 NAEA conference March 17-21 in Seattle, Wash. More than 5,000 art teachers and museum educators attend this conference. Fowler has also been presenting for 16 years on art education and art therapy for the Missouri Art Education Association.