Shelby
Prindaville, the new Chair of the Art Department, is adjusting well at
Morningside College.
Last
fall, in 2018, Terri McGaffin, the previous Chair of the Art Department,
announced her retirement.
The
search for the new Chair began, spring 2019.
Out
of the many applicants, Shelby Prindaville was the right fit for the position.
Now,
with the fall semester roughly halfway over, let’s see how Prindaville is doing
so far in this new journey.
Shelby
Prindaville traveled from Leavenworth, Kansas. She worked as the Art Program
Director of the University of St. Mary for 6 years.
She
taught more than work the administration part at that job due just being her and
another faculty who worked that department.
The
reason for leaving was the change in the administration of the university. “The
new administration had a different vision for where the school was going and
that vision doesn’t include the liberal arts.” Said Prindaville.
She
did an international search and applied for 60 positions that met what she was
looking for, to which one of them was Morningside.
Prindaville
was happy to be accepted as the new Chair of the Art Department. She said, “This
one, I thought, was the best fit. The people…every step felt like a good fit.”
To which she continued on that the position her kept her career progressing and
added extra benefits.
Compared
to the University of St. Mary, Morningside is 3 to 4 times the size. She feels
that the program is more academically geared here and people seem more serious
about it.
“The
art is healthy here.” Prindaville would go on describing the wonderful program
and environment Morningside College provides. She was very excited about “Into
the Streets” and being able to spend a day giving back to the community.
Prindaville
brings to the campus many talents that she does. She likes to do ecological
artwork, where she describes as “not so
narrow in terms of media but narrow in topic.” She uses a variety of mediums,
but brings together nature and psychological human traits to her pieces. She
does a lot of experimenting as she enjoys science.
This
semester has been going well for her and doesn’t have nothing to complain
about.
She
is thankful for Terri McGaffin, even saying that she is amazing. McGaffin, the
previous chair of the art department and now the transition coordinator for the
department, is helping Prindaville transition by taking some of the many
projects that needs to be done.
Not
many schools prepare people for their positions and Prindaville is thankful for
it.
McGaffin
is happy for how well Prindaville has been handling things. McGaffin pointed
out that, “She is on top of advising right now.” Prindaville has been an
advisor before. She knows these things.
McGaffin
is very confident in Prindaville. She sees potential for more interdisciplinary
work to happen. McGaffin points out the Prindaville is a multi-disciplinary
artist, a scientist and speaks in terms of legal issues. Prindaville is a good
example, as students have already been doing this, by not being dedicated to
one thing.
From
a student perspective, Freshman, Devyn Reilly, is currently taking two classes,
Design and Drawing, taught by Prindaville.
Reilly
is getting the most exposure with Prindaville and gets to really know her. The
classes are really long and Reilly mentioned that Prindaville really talks a
lot, but the continuous conversations help make the classes feel shorter and
she is pretty fun.
Prindaville’s
lectures are not her just teaching the students but gaining feedback for her
own personal work.
Prindaville’s style of
teaching is always on schedule. All the assignments and projects that are
described on the syllabus are on time. She rarely makes few adjustments.
In both her classes,
Reilly believes that Prindaville is doing a good job at helping her get better
at art. All the inputs Reilly has gotten from Prindaville has helped improve
her art; from highlights to values.
Another student who is currently
in one of Prindaville’s class is Elise O’Regan…. More info to come….
