Spring 2012 Interior Design News By Ruth Beals
Professors Ruth Beals and Jane Hughes and six juniors and sophomores attended the Unity in Design High Point Design Center event on February 29 and April 1. They enjoyed showroom visits, two lectures, a tour of Tomlinson Furniture and receptions where they met other students and designers. A team of visitors for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) completed an intensive three day review of the curriculum, including course documents and student work. A very impressive display of three years of student work was exhibited in the Barnett Room in the Montgomery building. Most of the Program’s students participated in the student interview and made a big impression, especially with their willingness to respond to questions and by working together. The accreditation decision will be issued at the end of July, yet we can report that the exit interview went very well. Comments during this meeting noted that Program strengths were collaborations, teamwork, global awareness, lighting, and the students’ writing and
presentation skills. President Fleming complemented the Program on its alignment with Converse’s strategic plans. Thanks to the Department of Art and Design faculty and students, the administration and Paula Cash for all their help. The senior students presented their capstone projects on May 4. Mary Jane Grigsby, the current president of the NCIDQ organization joined us in witnessing their accomplishments and her comment was “outstanding.” The ASID Student Chapter provided the Senior Celebration Luncheon during the presentations. Senior Exhibitions were held the week before graduation. The juniors are integrating the light rendering software Podium into their spring courses and the sophomores are learning Revit. Congratulations to Johanna Whitmer ’08 for attaining her NCIDQ certification. Johanna is with Warren & Harmon Commercial Interiors in Myrtle Beach. Krista Williams ’10 joined Perkins and Will in Chicago for an internship and will complete her graduate program at SCAD this June. Hope Williams ’11 has joined Alfred Williams, a Herman Miller dealership in Greenville. Frani Mayer ’11 is finishing her graduate
degree in sustainable design at NYSID and loving being in New York City. Kathie Chicoine ’11 is pursuing an online graduate degree at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Amanda Ripley ’11 is enrolled in an interior design graduate program at Corcoran University in Washington, DC. Megan Murphy ’11 is working at Bossard Design in Charlotte, NC. Congratulations to Anna Marengo ’12 for being accepted into interior design graduate programs at SCAD and NYSID.
Art Therapy Update
From the Chair. . .
By Geri Hurlbut
By Teresa Prater
As we end yet another busy academic year I would like to reflect on our many successes. Our CIDA accreditation site visit was a huge undertaking by the interior design faculty that ended with what Dr. Jeff Barker said was the best closing interview by an accreditation site visit he has ever seen at Converse. What a statement! Congratulations to Ruth, Jane and Frazer! As many of you already know our department has some of the best and hardest working faculty on campus. From Andrew and Mac’s student’s successes in juried shows to Geri’s trips to Haiti, our faculty fosters the highest dreams and expectations. That is why so many of our students are successful. They want to mirror the faculty’s desire to be better artists, historians, therapists, educators, and designers. I also want to recognize Mac for his many years of service to Converse and the Department. Though not yet moving into full retirement, Mac will be moving to part-time teaching as he begins to phase into full-time artist mode. To this year’s graduates, I wish happiness and success, and to everyone a productive and creative summer.
The Art Therapy program continues to grow each year with new students coming every year, some from as far away as New York and California. Their bright energy enhances the classroom environment, and makes the academic experience a joy. continued on page 2
Arts for Haiti team: (Left to Right) Elizabeth York, Rachel Collins, Geri Hurlbut (back), Brittney Washington, Brittney Silver, Molly Glibbery, Donna Jackson, Ann Pittman