Deborah Kuster
Fiber Artist
Art Educator
Author
Scholarship
As a professor in the discipline of art education, my scholarship is centered on the theory and practice of teaching art to others through research and development of effective theories of teaching and learning. As a scholar, my prime concern is to influence the practice of art education with a focus on curriculum development and school/museum partnerships. My scholarship is primarily evidenced through publications, presentations, workshops, and involvement in professional organizations. My scholarship enhances my teaching and my students have shared in and advanced my scholarship.
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATION
Bain, C, Young, J. & Kuster, D. (2022) Once a Teacher always a teacher: The stories of two art
educators who left public schools. Teaching and Teacher Education, vol.112. 103645.
Bain, C., Young, J. & Kuster, D. (2017) Finding the Right Fit: Three Art Teachers Describe Their
Mentorship Style. Art Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association,
70(3),29-33.
Kuster, D., Bain, C., & Young, J. (2015). Take five: Fifth year art teachers’ maturing understanding of curriculum. Studies in Art Education, 56 (4), 369-381.
Kuster, D., Bain, C., & Young, J. (2014). Fifth year art teachers: Constructing a professional identity. Visual Arts Research, 40(2). 90-99
Kuster, D., O’Neal, K., Gooch, A. (2010). Student teachers tell their stories of curriculum development. Art Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association, 63 (4), 6-12.
Kuster, D., Bain, C., Newton, C., & Milbrandt, M. (2010). Novice Art Teachers: Navigating through the first year. Visual Arts Research, 36(1).
Bain, C.,Newton, C., Kuster, D., & Milbrandt, M. (2010). How do novice teachers define and implement
meaningful curriculum? Studies in Art Education, 51(3), 233-247.
Kuster, D. (2008). A museum collaboration and interdisciplinary adventure with pre-service teachers. Art Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association, 61(5), 33-39.
Kuster, D & TerAvest, M. (2007).Yours, mine, and ours: Art and community. School Arts,107(4),42-43.
Kuster, D. (2007). Fostering lifelong creativity in self and others. In L. Lackey & A.M. LaPorte (Eds) Conference Proceeding Lifelong Learning (pp.17- 20). NAEA Committee on Lifelong Learning.
Kuster, D. (2006). Back to the basics: Multicultural theories revisited and put into practice. Art
Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association, 59(5),33-39.
Kuster, D. (2006). Critical theory in art education: Some comparisons. Translations. The National Art Education Association, vol.15, no.1.
Kuster, D. (2005).A tale of two artists: Creativity in old age. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 72(2), 42-46.
Kuster, D. (2005). Utilizing value orientations for cultural dialogue. Journal of Cultural Research in Art
Education. vol. 23, 88-97.
Kuster, D. (2005). Home is where art begins: The works of Clyde Connell. Art Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association, 58(5), 25-32.
Kuster, D. (2002). The art of making the ordinary extraordinary. Art Education: The Journal of the National Art Education Association. 55 (3), 25-31.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
International:
2014 Tenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Presentation: “The Artistic Act of Teaching: Constructing a Professional Identity (with J. Young & C. Bain)
National:
2015 Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning, Austin, TX.
Presentation: “The Many Facets of Mentoring” (with J. Young & C. Bain)
2014 Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning, Austin, TX.
Poster Presentation: “Experiencing Community Resources for Future Reference”
2013 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Convention, Fort Worth, TX
Presentation: “The Making of an Art Teacher” (with C. Bain & J. Young)
2011 NAEA Convention Seattle, WA.
Research Roundtable: “A Study of the Four Year Journey from Novice to Experienced”(with C. Bain & J. Young)
Presentation: “Basketry as a Creative and Expressive 3-D Technique” (with A. Slaughter Gatlin)
2009 NAEA Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
Higher Ed Forum I: “How is higher ed relevant to K-12 and museum educators, or is it?”(with E. Delacruz, B. Shauck, R.Caouette)
Higher Ed Forum II: “What supporting commonalities exist for higher ed, k-12, and museum educators, or are there any?” (with T.Brewer & R. Riordan)
2008 Arts in Education Forum, University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, TN.
Higher education roundtable panelist: “Arts Integration in Higher Education”
2008 NAEA Convention, New Orleans, LA.
Presentation: “Building bridges toward mastery: A support program for novice art teachers” (with J. Young)
2007 NAEA Convention, New York City.
Presentation: “New voices: How novice art teachers implement curriculum” (with C. Newton, M. Milbrandt,
& C. Bain)
Presentation: “A place for art and the art of place” (with K. O’Neal)
2006 NAEA Conference, Chicago, IL.
Presentation: “Tools for investigating cultural values” (with C. Newton)
Presentation: “Fostering lifelong creativity”
2005 NAEA Convention, Boston, MA
Presentation: “Encouraging preservice students to develop meaningful curricula” (with C. Newton, J. Chanda)
2002 American Association of Museums
Poster Presentation
RECOGNITION
2020 Professor Emeritus, University of Central Arkansas
2015 Outstanding Arts Educator Award, Conway Alliance for the Arts (CAFTA)
2014 Best Poster Presentation Award, Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching
and Learning, Austin, TX
2014 Invited guest on Spotlight, Channel 6
2013 Selected as one of five Arkansas Women to Watch 2013, sponsored by the Arkansas
Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts
2009 Student Chapter Sponsor Award of Excellence, Arkansas Art Educators
2009 Finalist in UCA Teaching Excellence Award
2008 Delta Award, Arkansas Arts Center, 51st Annual Delta Exhibition
2007 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year, Arkansas Art Educators
2007 Nominated for Higher Education Art Educator of the Year for Western Region, NAEA
2005 Nominated and selected for inclusion in the ninth edition of Who’s Who among
America’s Teachers
2000-2001 Marcus Fellowship, University of North Texas
1998 Certificate of Appreciation of Service, Winona ISD
1995, 1997 Texas Art Education Association Certificate of Appreciation for Leadership
1996, 1998 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 1996, 1998
1994 Teacher of the Year Finalist, Winona ISD
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
Studio Art Quilts Associates
National Art Education Association
Arkansas Art Educators
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Arkansas Arts Council