Angela Batchelor

Angela Batchelor is in her ninth year at CSI, but she has been teaching in higher education for 20 years. At CSI, she teaches Art History, Painting, Printmaking, Book Arts, Calligraphy, and Art Portfolio.

Teaching wasn't originally part of Angela's plan. While in graduate school, she was awarded a teaching assistantship and discovered how much she enjoyed working with students. As she puts it, "Never say never!" Angela approaches her classes as a professional artist first. She works through many of the same challenges her students face, from developing an idea and working through the creative process to adjusting when something doesn't go as planned and learning how to talk and write about their work.

Her assignments are designed to build on one another while still giving students room to develop their own artistic voice. She says one of her favorite parts of teaching is watching that growth happen, whether a student comes into class with years of art experience or is creating art for the first time. And while students are learning painting, printmaking, or another medium, they're building skills that go far beyond art. Patience, time management, goal setting, problem solving, creativity, and learning how to work through challenges are all part of the process.

Outside of CSI, Angela considers herself a homebody and enjoys spending time with her family and pets, going for walks, reading, gardening, working on art projects, and hand embroidery. Something students might not expect is that she's actually an introvert. Angela says she used to be terrified of speaking in front of a crowd, but teaching has helped give her the confidence to do things she never thought she would. Her advice to students interested in art: show up, take it seriously, and work hard. Opportunities will come, but you have to be ready for them.