Posted 3:11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021
Awards come from Wisconsin Art Education Association peer
Two UW-La Crosse Art Department faculty and an alumna of the department have earned awards from their peers in the Wisconsin Art Education Association.
The three received their awards at the organization’s annual conference in Wisconsin Rapids Oct. 21 and 22.
Award winners and comments by nominators include:
- Lynnae Burns, a 1989 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s in professional development in 1994, was named Outstanding Middle Level Art Educator. Burns recently retired from the School District of La Crosse where she taught from 1998-2021.
"Lynnae is a nurturing and inspiring teacher. She has taught many ages and at many schools and her legacy remains her innovative lessons coupled with a deep compassion and interest in her students. Lynnae's masterful and attentive teaching leads her students to produce work that is authentically their own, with imagery pulled from their dreams, memories and collective cultural experiences" - Ronnah Metz, Art Educator, Harry Spence Elementary School
- Lisa Lenarz, assistant professor in the UWL Art Department, was named Outstanding Higher Education Art Educator.
"Lisa is a fantastic advocate for students in the Art Education program. She recognized that the previous instability in the position created a disjointed view of the student trajectory through the university and the eventual graduation and employment as art educators. She brought together various representatives from the School of Education and coordinated this ‘listen and learn’ session. By the accounts I have heard from students and administrators, this was a well-received event and one that is likely to be duplicated in other departments. This search for understanding has led Lisa to have a stronger advising relationship with her students." - Robert J. Dixon, former co-chair, UWL Art Department
- Deborah-Eve Lombard, associate lecturer and gallery director in the UWL Art Department, received a WAEA Distinguished Service Award.
“Deborah-Eve always considers the educational and community value of teaching art, exhibiting art and experiencing art. We are so very fortunate to have her in our department at UWL. It is my hope she will receive recognition for her dedication and vision to offer our visual art education community more opportunities that expose and engage us with expanded authorship and voices." - Lisa Lenarz, assistant professor of Art, UWL