What is your role at Villa and what does that entail? I am an associate professor in both the Interior Design and Fine Art programs. I help to coordinate these programs, advise students, and I teach courses like Intro. to Interior Design, Furniture Design, Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, and Sculpture. I am also the Art Shop Coordinator and I help students create and turn their design and art ideas into actual things.
What do you find to be most enjoyable about it? I really like teaching and it’s most enjoyable when I see students exploring, creating, and learning.
Share something unique about your program. Our Interior Design Program is CIDA accredited and it’s the best college Interior Design program in Western New York. Our Fine Art Program has the best artists in Buffalo as its professors.
Tell us more about your program. Our Interior Design program has a strong relationship with local designers and architects and they help advise our program, participate in our student critiques, tour us through local buildings and showrooms, and come to our Student Exhibits. Our Fine Art Program has strong relationships with local artists and galleries. They also help create public murals in our community.
What are some things you do outside of Villa that relate to your field? I am a sculptor, creating and showing both gallery pieces and also large-scale public art. I am also asked from time to time to be a juror for local art shows and public art.
What are some of your professional accomplishments? Being a professional sculptor for the last 15 years has been very rewarding in itself. I have had multiple solo shows, been awarded the Langley Kensey Prize from the Art in Craft Media Exhibition from the Burchfield Penney as well as being part of their permanent collection. I built a public art playground at Art Park in Lewiston, NY, and created a large-scale permanent sculpture for the city of Niagara Falls, on Old Falls Street.
> Learn more about the Arc on Old Falls Street here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBG5C0rVIdg.
Share a fun fact about yourself. I spent my childhood in the woods in rural Mississippi living in a house my parents built.
