Art and Design Faculty and Staff
The Department of Art and Design is committed to helping you succeed in the classroom and after graduation. Our faculty and staff work with you directly to build skills and refine talents. They are award-winning educators and experienced professionals that have been nationally recognized for their work and are committed to your success.
Rachael Barron-Duncan
Associate Professor, Art History
Wightman Hall 167 / 989-774-3235
barro1r@cmich.edu
Education:
Ph.D: Yale University
MPhil: 2001, Yale University
MA: 1999, Yale University
AB: 1998, Vassar College
Courses Taught:
Intro to Western Art II • American Art • Art After 1945 • Nineteenth Century Art • European Art from 1890-1940 • Gender & Art • Modern Architecture • Seminar in Modern & Contemporary Art • African Art
Julie Benda
Barstow Artist-in-Residence, Multimedia
Wightman Hall
benda1jr@cmich.edu
https://www.jreneebenda.com/
Education:
MFA: 2016 Minneapolis College of Art and Design
BA: 2011 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Courses Taught:
Current Barstow Artist-in-Residence & BFA Mentor
Rose Brauner
Assistant Professor, Animation
Wightman Hall 222
braun1r@cmich.edu
http://rosebrauner.blogspot.com/
Education:
MFA: 2013, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
BFA: 2009, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Courses Taught:
2D Digital Animation • Animation Senior Project I & II • Animation Drawing • Concept Development: Characters & Environment
Larry Burditt
Professor, Graphic Design
Wightman Hall 168
burdi1lg@cmich.edu
Education:
BS Oklahoma State University
MS Oklahoma State University
BFA Oklahoma State University
MFA University of Oklahoma
Courses Taught:
Introduction to Graphic Design • Web Design I • Web Design II • Motion Graphics • Emerging Media • Capstone for Graphic Design
Jeremy Catarino
Lecturer 1, 3D Animation
Wightman Hall 166
catar1ja@cmich.edu
Education:
M.S. Technology Studies 3D Modeling/Animation
Eastern Michigan University
Courses Taught:
3D Animation I, II, & III • Digital Design • Animation Portfolio & Professional Practices
Israel Davis
Assistant Professor, Ceramics
Wightman Hall 163
Davis1i@cmich.edu
israeldavis.com
Education:
MFA: 2003, University of Iowa (Ceramics)
BFA: 1998, School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC - Ceramics and Sculpture)
Courses Taught:
Design Foundations • Intro to Ceramics • Ceramics Studio • Advanced Ceramics Studio • Intro to Contemporary Issues in Art
Jeremy Davis
Associate Professor, Sculpture
Wightman Hall 148b
davis7jc@cmich.edu
davis-sculpture.com
Education:
MFA: 2015, School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC - Sculpture)
BFA: 2005, Lyme Academy College of Fine Art
Courses Taught:
Intro to Sculpture • Intro to Digital Fabrication • Sculpture Studio • Advanced Sculpture Studio • Moldmaking & Casting • Portrait & Figure Sculpture • Character Sculpture & Development • Intro to Drawing • Figure Drawing • Digital Sculpture
Scott de Brestian
Associate Professor, Art History
Wightman Hall 133 / 989-774-3551
debre1sc@cmich.edu
Education:
Ph.D: 2003, University of Missouri-Columbia
MA: 1997, University of Missouri-Columbia
BA: 1994, Boston University
Courses Taught:
Ancient & Medieval Art History • Intro to Western Art I • Art Critic Methodology/Art History • Islamic Art • Research Seminar in Art History
Chris DiNoto
Lecturer I, Graphic Design
Wightman Hall
dinot1cs@cmich.edu
Education:
BFA: 2018 Central Michigan University
Courses Taught:
Web Design I • Web Design II
Hannah Duggan
Lecturer I, Painting/Drawing
Wightman Hall 139
dugga1h@cmich.edu
https://www.hannahduggan.com/
Education:
MFA: 2022, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
BFA: 2018, University of Georgia
Courses Taught:
Intro
to Painting • Intro to Drawing • Design Foundations • Intro to Figure Drawing
Brian Elder
Chairperson/Professor, Painting/Drawing
Wightman Hall 139 / 989-774-3025
elder1b@cmich.edu
brianelderartist.com
Education:
MFA: 1996, Indiana University
BFA: 1994, University of New Hampshire
Courses Taught:
Intro to Painting • Painting Studio • Advanced Painting Studio • Drawing in Florence • Intro to Drawing • Drawing Studio • Advanced Drawing Studio
Lisa Hockin
Lecturer I, Art Education
Wightman Hall
hocki1lk@cmich.edu
Education:
BA: Michigan State University 1991
Art Education Certification: Michigan State University 1995
Courses Taught:
Intro to Art Education
Jessica Hoffman
Lecturer III, Art History
Wightman Hall 145
hoffm1j@cmich.edu
Education:
Ph.D: University of Maryland
MA: University of Maryland
BA: University of Texas Austin
Courses Taught:
Intro
to the Visual Arts • Seminar in Early Modern Art History • Intro to Western Art • Intro to Non-Western Art • Italian Renaissance Art
Steve Leeper
Professor, Animation
Wightman Hall 222
leepe1js@cmich.edu
https://jsl-studio-animation.webnode.page/
MFA: 2007, Art Institute of Boston (Visual Arts)
BFA: 1990, School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Animation, Drawing, & Painting)
Courses Taught:
Intro to Animation • Storyboarding for Digital Media • Animation Senior Project I & II • Animation Drawing • Animation Studio I, II, & III • Stop Motion Animation • Alternative Strategies for Animation
Tesha Merkel
Lecturer, Animation & Graphic Design
Wightman Hall 222
merke1l@cmich.edu
https://www.teshamerkel.com/
Education:
MFA: 2021, The Ohio State University
BFA: 2018, Indiana State University
Courses Taught:
Intro to Animation • Motion Graphics • Animation Drawing II • Intro to Graphic Design • Emerging Media in Graphic Design
Clark Most
Professor, Graphic Design
Wightman Hall 138
most1cf@cmich.edu
designdirection.com
Education:
MFA: 1999, Central Michigan University
BFA: 1981, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Undergrad: Aegean School of Fine Arts, Greece
Associate: 1977, Delta College
Courses Taught:
Intro to Graphic Design • Logo & Identity Design • Typography • Design Bureau • Professional Design Practices • Graphic Design Capstone
Johanna Paas
Professor, Printmaking
Wightman Hall 169 / 989-774-4244
paas1jm@cmich.edu
Education:
MFA: 2001, Louisiana State University
Teaching Certificate: 1997, Eastern Michigan University
BFA: 1995, University of Michigan
Courses Taught:
Intro to Printmaking • Printmaking Studio • Advanced Printmaking Studio • Screen Printing
Kris Sanford
Associate Professor, Photography
Wightman Hall 169
sanfo1k@cmich.edu
krissanford.com
Education:
MFA: 2005, Arizona State University
BFA: 2000, College for Creative Studies
AA: 1996, Washtenaw Community College
Courses Taught:
Intro to Photography • Photography Lighting Studio • Alternative Photographic Processes • Photography Studio • Advanced Photography Studio • The Self and Other in Photography • History of Photography
Lavana Shurtliff
Lecturer I, Painting & Drawing
Wightman Hall 131
shurt1la@cmich.edu
Education:
BFA: 1994 Central Michigan University
Courses Taught:
Design Foundations • Introduction to Drawing • Introduction to Painting
David Stairs
Professor, Graphic Design
Wightman Hall 147 / 989-774-3064
stair1dc@cmich.edu
designerswithoutborders.org
design-altruism-project.org
Education:
MFA: 1993, University of Oregon
Certificate: 1976, Croydon College of Art, London
BFA: 1975, Rhode Island School of Design
Courses Taught:
Foundational Visual Thinking • Intro to Graphic Design • Design Bureau • Typography • Design History • Contemporary Issues in Design • Professional Practice • Advanced Typography • Graphic Design Capstone
Michael Volker
Lecturer III, Painting and Drawing
Wightman Hall 163
volke1md@cmich.edu
MichaelVolker.com
Education:
MFA: 2001, Central Michigan University
BFA: 1996, Central Michigan University
Courses Taught:
Intro to Drawing • Drawing Studio • Advanced Drawing Studio • Figure Drawing • Art Appreciation • Intro to Painting • Painting Studio • Advanced Painting Studio • Design Foundations
Charles Wilson
Lecturer I, Animation
Wightman Hall
wilso9c@cmich.edu
Education:
MFA: 1997 Rochester Institute of Technology
BA: Taylor University
Courses Taught:
History of Animation
Ryan Flesher
Coordinator/Technician
Wightman Hall 156
flesh1rc@cmich.edu
Education:
MFA: 2003, Western Michigan University
BFA: 1999, Alma College
Service Responsibilities:
CMU Laboratory Safety Committee representative
Anne Gochenour
University Art Gallery Director
University Art Gallery / 989-774-7457
goche1as@cmich.edu
Courses Taught:
BFA Exhibition • BA/BS Capstone • BAA Senior Seminar
Cindy Verwey
Executive Secretary
Wightman Hall 132 / 989-774-3025
verwe1c@cmich.edu
