Three Art Education Students Teach Abroad

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Art education students from left to right: Cindy Ruiz, Elizabeth Minshall and Mary Kate Massanelli

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students Mary Kate Massanelli, Elizabeth Minshall and Cindy Ruiz will be teaching abroad this spring. The three art education majors in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will gain experience teaching culturally diverse students, Massanelli and Minshall at a school in Sweden and Ruiz at a school in Peru, while fulfilling their K-12 Arkansas art teaching certification requirements.

The daughter of a teacher, Massanelli, of Little Rock, has always enjoyed art and working with kids. By teaching in another country she will be able to learn new ways to deal with and respond to problems similar to those faced in the United States and share those experiences when she returns.

"I strongly believe that Art is vital to the educational experience because I believe that it is through art that people can learn how to solve problems in creative ways that are unique to them," Massanelli said.

Minshall's major emphasis is on painting and minor emphasis is on printmaking. She graduated from Central High School in Little Rock, has worked at an overnight summer camp for five years and has always enjoyed working with the public. She hopes to continue to teach in different areas of the world and understand more about diversity believing "diversity should be celebrated, not stifled."

"Even when I was working with groups doing team building exercises I loved watching them problem solve," Minshall said. "Getting to teach in my field is even better. I feel that I have a lot to offer because it's something that I have worked on for several years. So it's nice to be able to share that knowledge with others just as my art teachers did for me."

Ruiz, of Rogers, was born in Los Angeles. She is fluent in Spanish and English and will be the first of her family to graduate from high school and college. She hopes to learn about another culture and how to broaden her perspectives and plans to teach in Northwest Arkansas or Texas.

"Teaching in another country means that I will be able to experience a range of cultural diversity," Ruiz said. "Not only will the students be learning something from me, but I as well will learn things that I will remember forever."

The students will teach from March 20-May 1. They will graduate in May with even greater insight into Sen. J. William Fulbright's vision of peace through education and incorporate their experiences of educational exchange and mutual understanding into their teaching.