Jacquie O'Brien

      I have had five years of teaching experience at the university level at Rochester Institute of Technology in the Fine Arts Department. My time there allowed me to take advantage of opportunities to teach in many different fields, such as sculpture, fiber art, drawing, foundations, 3-D design and ceramics. My teaching style contains a duality that works for a range of learners by meeting my students where they are. I spend extra time working with them to build coursework that is geared towards a productive, and growth focused experience. I feel that duality is born from my strength, discipline and discerning sensibility which allows me an acute awareness of my students and how to help them feel welcome. This method of teaching creates a community of students opposed to a solitary art exploration. The studio is a second home for artists and as such when my students come into my classroom, we become a community that supports each other, and works hard.

While teaching in the classroom I am especially focused on the adversities that my students face. I have created systems to make my classroom a safe space with ample support and while including a rigorous curriculum. I have individual meetings with my students throughout the semester to discuss their goals and closely observe their different learning styles and preferred pronouns. I refrain from using any gender pronouns while addressing my class and rely on a community standpoint that fosters individuality at the same time. It is important to me that I offer a system of conduct in my class that instills support and tolerance from the beginning.

     My zeal for teaching is as vital to me as investigating the contemporary art world, which I feel is intrinsically connected to the enrichment of my students. I am entirely dedicated to helping my students realize their own artistic mission. I want to show them what being an artist can truly be; how it can leak into any part of the world or type of profession and how they can apply their skills as an artist to succeed after college.                     Fundamentally, I seek to offer a way for my students to combine their artistic talents with their everyday life and show them how it can only make one more successful in their professional pursuits.