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Home › News & Events › News › Robinson receives Velez Diversity Leadership Scholarship

Robinson receives Velez Diversity Leadership Scholarship

August 15, 2022
K. Lynn Robinson worked for the university’s Equity in the Arts as a graduate research assistant. (Brian Reeves, Perfect Day Photos)

By Mike Chesnick
School of Art

As K. Lynn Robinson explores collective learning in her research, she’s convinced it can help change the art education profession in ways that better represent the nation’s diverse populations and communities.

For her efforts, the School of Art doctoral student has been named the recipient of the 2022-23 Dr. Maria Teresa Velez Diversity Leadership Scholarship. The award is given annually to a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Arizona who’s committed to diversity and inclusion through teaching, research or outreach and service.

“My research is less about teacher development than it is about modeling new possibilities for all educators,” Robinson said. “We tend to look at education as the sole work of the teacher, but students learn in nearly all the spaces we find them in. Grandma’s house, at the community center, or in their dad’s garage. What if we gathered all these educators and gave them access to art materials and ways of doing?

(From left) Tehan Ketema, K. Lynn Robinson, Mayor Regina Romero and Prof. Sama Alshaibi attended the 2022 MOCA Gala. (Photo courtesy of K. Lynn Robinson)

“What if we encouraged them to work together and shared authority in the design of the lessons their children will engage within the classroom? We’d then have the village our ancestors spoke of, and we’d return to a collective learning environment more conducive to the diverse populations we serve.”

As a graduate research assistant, Robinson helped create an arts equity student fellowship for the College of Fine Arts and has been “key to the successes” of the university’s Equity in the Arts, said Dr. Amy Kraehe, associate vice president for the Arizona Arts’ program.

Robinson, also a graduate teaching assistant, calls the Art & Visual Culture Education program in the School of Art “one of a kind,” led by Drs. Kraehe, gloria j. Wilson, Ryan Shin and Carissa DiCindio and Robinson’s first-year mentor, Dr. Manisha Sharma.

“The art education field is over 70 percent white women, so joining a program that has such a diverse faculty spoke to my own experiences in the arts and education and the kind of practice I hope to have,” Robinson said. “Getting your Ph.D. is a certain kind of evil and really takes everything from you in the process, but (these professors) have given me such a fulfilling and multidimensional perspective on the power of the arts and how interwoven equity can be in its practice.”

Robinson received her B.A. in History & Peace, War and Defense from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her M.A. in Heritage Preservation/Public History from Georgia State University. While earning her master’s, she began consulting as an exhibit and program designer for small and large museums around Atlanta.

As for what to do with her Ph.D., Robinson is still working on her career plans.

“I’d love to teach ways the arts can be integrated into the curriculum for formal and informal education,” she said. “It’s a big passion of mine as I received this kind of teaching from my parents and schooling.

“I’d also love to continue into the arts business world and open my own gallery/community space in the communities that have been largely excluded from access to the arts. I want a space where people can talk the talk and walk the walk. Where art and education are accessible and transformative at all levels.”

For Robinson, art education has a “keen ability to work against the grain.”

“If we allow it, the methods of art education, in all of its reflexive beauty, can be elevated in such a way that it touches the deepest parts of our humanity — that urge to come together.”

ABOUT THE VELEZ DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

  • Named in honor of Dr. Maria Teresa Velez, associate dean, University of Arizona Graduate College, and her lifelong commitment to promoting graduate student diversity and inclusion.
  • The award consists of $25,000, plus full base graduate tuition and student health insurance for a year.
  • More information

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University of Arizona School of Art
1 day ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Creative director John Meyer (BFA '82, Studio Art) — the College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year — calls his 2012 Walgreens branding campaign (“At the Corner of Happy & Healthy”) his favorite. Read our profile of John at tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof and the CFA announcement at tinyurl.com/SOAMeyernews. The former SOA adjunct instructor also appeared on the AMC television series "The Pitch." Arizona Arts The University of Arizona ... See MoreSee Less

Creative director John Meyer (BFA 82, Studio Art) — the College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year — calls his 2012 Walgreens branding campaign (“At the Corner of Happy & Healthy”) his favorite. Read our profile of John at https://tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof and the CFA announcement at https://tinyurl.com/SOAMeyernews. The former SOA adjunct instructor also appeared on the AMC television series The Pitch. Arizona Arts The University of ArizonaImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

This content isn't available right now ... See MoreSee Less

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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Ellen McMahon and Tioni Collins from Arizona Arts will give their “Perspectives on Resilience” for the Arizona Institute for Resilience on Feb. 2, 1-5p.

An eye-opening afternoon of idea sharing, learning, and networking around the theme of resilience with TED-style lightning talks, speed networking, and an interactive speaker panel. Attend in person (ENR2 Room S107) or on zoom.

azart.fyi/RSVPResilience

McMahon, associate dean for research, is the opening speaker and she’ll talk about the relationship between "Art, Knowledge, and Resilience." Collins, our student diversity programs specialist, will present “Predictable and Hidden Challenges of Higher Education.”

Learn how other faculty, researchers, and students approach resilience from their diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Meet potential collaborators across campus.

This half-day hybrid occasion will culminate with the unveiling of exciting new funding opportunities for future resilience-themed endeavors. A reception will follow.

azart.fyi/ResilienceInfo

Arizona Institutes for Resilience
The University of Arizona
University of Arizona School of Art
UArizona Research, Innovation & Impact
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University of Arizona School of Art
4 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, '15), who recently published "Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment" through Routledge (tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Robert's dissertation, "The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America," under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist Studies ... See MoreSee Less

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, 15), who recently published Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment through Routledge (https://tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Roberts dissertation, The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America, under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist StudiesImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat!

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed "to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement," Visions says.

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)
... See MoreSee Less

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat! 

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement, Visions says.   

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The upcoming "Soy de Tejas" exhibition in San Antonio will feature Assistant Professor Alex Macias and Bella Maria Varela (MFA '21). They are among 40 native Texan and Texas-based contemporary artists "who reflect the diverse and beautiful complexity of Latinx identities," say the organizers of the exhibition, which is curated by Rigoberto Luna. The opening reception is Feb. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Centro de Artes. Congrats Alex and Bella!

• Facebook evite: fb.me/e/2wlRIMy2C
• Website: www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Galleries/Centro-de-Artes

Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio #GetCreativeSA #CentrodeArtesSA #SoydeTejas Arizona Arts
... See MoreSee Less

The upcoming Soy de Tejas exhibition in San Antonio will feature Assistant Professor Alex Macias and Bella Maria Varela (MFA 21). They are among 40 native Texan and Texas-based contemporary artists who reflect the diverse and beautiful complexity of Latinx identities, say the organizers of the exhibition, which is curated by Rigoberto Luna. The opening reception is Feb. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Centro de Artes. Congrats Alex and Bella!

• Facebook evite: https://fb.me/e/2wlRIMy2C 
• Website: https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Galleries/Centro-de-Artes

Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio  #GetCreativeSA #CentrodeArtesSA #SoydeTejas Arizona Arts
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