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Name: Beth Thomas
Title: Chairperson
Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
Department: Art Department

Expertise Keywords: art curriculum, Art Education, art teacher development, art teacher identity, assessment, conceptual metaphor theory, Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, language and art learning, language ideology and art education, metaphor

Available For: interviews, essays, speaking

Expertise: I was a practicing artist and taught in a variety of community art and private venues, and was an art teacher in public schools for 16 years before joining the Art Education faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008. In 2010 I joined the faculty at SUNY New Paltz where I now work in the MSEd Art Education and the BS Art Education programs. In 2012 I became Director of the Art Education program at SUNY New Paltz and in 2017 Chairperson of the Art Department.

Currrent Research: My current research investigates prospective art educators' perceptions of what matters to the art and art education community in evaluating individuals who would like to enter the profession. This is accomplished by drawing upon positioning theory to analyze application essays written by applicants to art education initial certification program. The research focusing on relationships between positioning, illocutionary force and storyline (past experiences, current attributes, future goals) to develop insight into ways prospective students position themselves as "good" potential members of the profession.

Contact Information

E-mail Address: thomasb@newpaltz.edu

Other Information

Positions held at New Paltz prior to current position:
Human Research Ethics Board (2016-present)
SUNY System Seamless Transfer Review Team (Art Education facilitator) (2014) NCATE Writing Team (2013-2014)
Faculty Secretary (2011-2014)
Director, Art Education (2012-2013 and 2015-2017)
Fine & Performing Arts Council (member, 2015-present; chair 2015-2017)
Faculty Search Committee Chair, Art Education (2015-2016)
Graduate Coordinator, Art Education program (2011-2013, 2015-2017)
F&PA Strategic Planning Committee (2013-2014)
F&PA Web Presence Committee (2013-2014)

Positions held prior to joining SUNY New Paltz:
Interim Director, Master of Arts in Teaching, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore MD
Faculty, Master of Arts in Teaching, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore MD
Faculty, Master of Arts in Art Education, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore MD

Education

Awards/Grants/Honors

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2018

Research and Creative Projects Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2018

Appointment to Council on Policy Studies in Art Education (NAEA) 2018

Fellowship, National Council of Arts Administrators (2017)

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2017

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2016

University Educator of the Year Award, New York Art Teachers Association (R7) 2016

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2015

Nuala McGann Drescher Research Leave (UUP) 2014

Research and Creative Projects Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2014

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2014

Major Connections Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2013

Professional Development Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2013

Special Events Funding Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2013

CAS Program Funds Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2012

Research and Creative Projects Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2012

Special Events Funding Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2012

Special Events Funding Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2012

CAS Program Funds Award (SUNY New Paltz) 2011

Special Events Funding Award (SUNY New Paltz 2011

Research and Creative Projects Award (SUNY New Paltz)

2011 Fulbright Teacher Exchange, Japan 2002

Other professional activities

Editorial Review Board, Studies in Art Education (2019-present)

External Evaluator, SUNY Ulster Program Review (2018)

External Evaluator (promotion to full professor) Florida Atlantic University (2017)

Reviewer, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education (2010-2018)

Editor, New York State Art Teachers Association Newsletter (2014-2015)

Columnist, National Art Education Association News, CSTAE (2013-2014)

Reviewer, Art Education Journal (2010-2013)

Chair, Cross-Division Research Committee, National Art Education Association (2009- 2012)

Organizational Memberships

National Council of Arts Administrators

Council on Policy Studies in Art Education

National Art Education Association

United States Art Education Association

International Art Education Association

Publications

Peer reviewed journal articles:

Thomas, B. (2017). Language policy, language ideology and visual art education for emergent bilingual students. Arts Education Policy Review,118(4), 218-229.

Thomas, B. (2016). Requirement and irresolution: Language and art learning. Studiesin Art Education, 57(2), 191-195.

Thomas, B. (2014). Regulation and recognition in education discourses. Studies inArt Education, 55(2), 177-181.

Thomas, B. and C. Hopenwasser (2014). Picturebooks and literacies. Journal of Reading Education, 39(3), 33-36.

Thomas, B. (2012). Psychologizing and the anti-psychologist: Dewey, Lacan,and questions for art education. Studies in Art Education, 53(4), 330-346.

Thomas, B. (2010). The Thames is a teacher: Lacanian metaphor and meaning in writing about art. Visual Arts Research, 36(2), 103-122.

Invited journal articles:

Thomas, B. (2014). The secret language of art education. SYNNYT/Origins 2, 45-59. (Invited)

Invited book Chapters:

Thomas. B. (2009). Surpassing knowing: Metaphor and category reconceptualization in the artwork of Mark Dion. In L. Della Pietra (Ed.)
Perspectives on Creativity, pp. 48-64. London: Cambridge Scholars.

Book reviews:

Thomas, B. (in press). Learning from art: Review of Letting art teach: Art education after Joseph Beuys. Studies in Art Education, 60(1).

Thomas, B. (2014). Book Review: Practice Theory. Studies in Art Education, 56(1), 442-445. (Invited)