Faculty and alumni from Moore College of Art & Design’s Art Education program were front and center at the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania from September 27-28.
Lauren Stichter, Director and Associate Professor of Art Education at Moore, was honored with both the Outstanding Art Educator of the Year Award and the Outstanding Special Needs Art Educator Award. As the winner of the Outstanding Art Educator of the Year Award, Stichter was then nominated for the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) National Art Educator Award, presented in March 2025.
“As a lifelong Philadelphian and an art educator dedicated to equitable and accessible practices for over 20 years, I am deeply honored to receive both the PAEA Outstanding Art Educator of the Year Award and the Outstanding Special Needs Art Educator Award,” Stichter said. “These recognitions means so much to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have impacted students of all ages through the power of art.”
Kat Lee MA ‘18 was presented with the award for Outstanding Secondary Art Educator. Several Moore graduates and faculty also served as workshop and session presenters at the annual event, covering topics like Advocating for Inclusive Practices, Choice-Based Art Education, Trauma-Informed Care in the Art Room, Equitable and Accessible Access to the Arts, and Working with English Language Learners:
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Lynette Brown-Edwards, Adjunct Professor
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Leslie Grace, Adjunct Professor
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Erika Mendell MA ‘18
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Becky Hughes PB '11
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Marita Fitzpatrick '85
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Margo Wunder PB ‘11
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Paige Colditz MA ‘24
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Tara Drissel MA ‘22
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Kylie West MA ‘22
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Cara Epstein MA ‘22
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Veronica Hicks MA '13
As representatives of the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Moore College of Art & Design faculty and alumni celebrated PAEA’s 75th anniversary with a kick-off party at Tröegs Brewery, keynote speakers from across the nation, and a special art mart for members to sell their personal work.
Stichter said she was proud to see such a strong showing from the Moore community at the conference.
“Having so many incredible colleagues and alumni from Moore represented at this year's PAEA conference fills me with immense pride. It’s a testament to the vibrant, creative community we’ve cultivated, one that continues to push the boundaries of art education,” she said. “To see our collective work recognized, from awardees to session presenters, reflects the deep impact we’re making across the field. I feel profoundly honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of educators and learners who are shaping the future of art education.”
Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Want to learn about our BFA or MA in the Art Education major at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We’d love to tell you more!
