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For �鶹��ѡ alumna and Northeast Ohio art educator Jennifer Thompson, art and �鶹��ѡin particular have been a lifelong part of her story, beginning in her pre-teen years.

“My connection to �鶹��ѡ began long before I was a college student,” Thompson said. “In middle school, I saw flyers for the Saturday Art Program at KSU, and my mom enrolled me in a clay class. Years later, during my undergraduate studies, I returned to those very classrooms, this time as the teacher.” 

While Thompson initially started college at another university, it was ultimately at Kent State’s College of the Arts where she found her fit, earning both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in art education here in 1995 and 2003, respectively.

“Before transferring to Kent State, I attended a different university where I constantly felt torn between art and education,” she said. “That program lacked the depth in art education I was looking for, and, at the time, I didn’t feel confident enough to pursue Kent. But when I finally applied and started in 1991, it felt like coming home.

“What I loved most about the program was its structure,” Thompson added. “We were immersed in art experiences our first year, grounding us in both theory and authentic practice. Many universities wait until student teaching to provide real classroom experiences, but Kent integrated them early and consistently. I originally planned to pursue art therapy after graduating, but I realized how much I loved the classroom. Teaching gave me the opportunity to reach countless students, many of whom might never have the chance to access therapeutic experiences, through the power of art.”

Today in her role as both an art educator at Solon High School and as president-elect of the  (OAEA), Thompson is passionate about the wide-ranging benefits and important role art plays in students’ lives.

�鶹��ѡtaught me that art and community are inseparable, Thompson said.

“The program built a foundation for working with students with exceptionalities, nurturing my ability to create accessible, meaningful experiences for all learners. My education at Kent encouraged me to develop a voice through my artwork, something I now pass on to my own students. Because of that foundation, my teaching and my art practice are deeply connected to my students’ lives and the communities they come from. It has made my teaching richer, more empathetic and more intentional.”

Thompson wants people to understand that creating art and art classes means so much more than simply an extracurricular. She believes it as an important mode of expression that often gets taken away from students in order to prioritize reading and math. She sees firsthand how learning to express oneself through art can help develop well-rounded thinkers and communicators who can excel in any field.

“Art uses math, science, literacy and problem-solving. Yet society often treats it as expendable,” she said. “I remember someone telling me once, ‘If my child couldn’t read, I’d hire a tutor. But if they couldn’t do art, I’d just let it go.’ As a parent of two daughters, one now an art teacher and one a nursing assistant, I saw firsthand how art gave them both choices and ways of learning that differed from my own. If we remove art, we remove opportunities for students to explore, take risks, make mistakes, think critically and discover who they are.”

Art shapes well-rounded humans because it shapes how they see, interpret and understand the world. – Jennifer Thompson

In addition to teaching and working as an artist, Thompson believes that art advocacy is critically important today. While she hopes to strengthen this message in the classroom and through OAEA, Thompson’s vision for art advocacy expands beyond Ohio.

“I want art to be universally recognized for the power it holds,” she said. “Art brings communities together, fosters empathy and helps us understand one another. I hope for a future in which art educators no longer have to prove the value of the arts but instead can focus on expanding and deepening their impact. Art is not an ‘extra,’ it is essential. My vision is to see that truth acknowledged and strengthened in every school.”

Learn more about Kent State's art education programs.