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….