Mitch Kern is an Associate Professor of Photography at the Alberta University of the Arts whose creative work includes still, video and mixed media photography. Using a camera as a vehicle for creative inquiry, he explores the social and natural landscape with documentary and staged images.

 

His current series imagines a fictionalized protagonist in the landscape who struggles with a moral dilemma, being caught between two competing interests: civilization and the wild.

 

Mitch has an extensive publication record, client list, and has been featured in 75+ exhibitions including over a dozen solo shows. He has an MFA in photography from Penn State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

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Education
2002    MFA    Pennsylvania State University
1999    BA,      University of Maryland Baltimore County, Magna Cum Laude 

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Work Experience
2013 – Present    Associate Professor, Alberta College of Art + Design
2006 – 2013         Assistant Professor, Alberta College of Art + Design
2011 – 2012         Acting Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Alberta College of Art + Design
2003 – 2006         Assistant Professor, Louisiana Tech University
2002 – 2003         Assistant Professor, University of Central Missouri
2000 – 2002         Graduate Teaching Assistant (Instructor of Record), Pennsylvania State University
1997 – 2000          Staff Photographer, Tribune Media, Baltimore MD
1996 – 1997          Interim Photo-Editor, Insight Magazine, Washington DC
1990 – 1996          Principal, Mitch Kern Photography, Baltimore/Washington DC

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Exhibition Record
2018      The Photographers, Herringer-Kiss Gallery, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Transformation, Curator, Herringer-Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
2017      Observation Deck, Beakernight, Fort Calgary, Invitational, Calgary, AB 
                I am Western, King Edward/C-Space, Curator: Melissa E. Cole, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Edge of the Wild, King Edward/C-Space, Performance, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Upside Down and Backwards, The Works Art & Design Festival, Invitational, Edmonton, AB
               Final Frontier, Telus Spark Science Centre, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Look/See, Calgary Teacher’s Convention, Telus Convention Centre, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Blind Spot: Blackout, Curator. Juror: Naomi Potter, Alberta College of Art + Design
               Consciousness and Mortality, Curator, Deville Loft, City Centre, Calgary, AB 
               Encounters, Curator, Deville Loft, City Centre, Calgary, AB
2016      Camper Obscura, Beakernight, McDougall Park, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Chasing Light, Beakerhead Festival, Stephen Avenue, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Hack It, Telus Spark Science Centre, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Festivalscape, Calgary International Film Festival, Theatre Junction, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Pop-Up Picnic, Hotchkiss Park, Downtown Calgary Association, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Show Don’t Tell, Fleuvog Peanut Gallery, Calgary, AB
               Blind Spot: Silver Linings: Curator. Juror: Yves Trepanier, Trepanier Baer Gallery, ACAD
               One-Year-Exposure, thepinholeproject.org, Invitational, Portland, OR
               Eye of the Beholder II, Installation, Alberta College of Art + Design
2015     Inside Out, Tomkins Park, Beakerhead Festival, Invitational, Calgary, AB
               Faculty Show, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Invitational, Alberta College of Art + Design
               Blind Spot, Co-Curator, Main Mall, Alberta College of Art + Design
2014     Not A Love Story, Photo Editor, University of Toronto Press 2014, Non-Fiction
               Annual Report, John Howard Society, Calgary, AB
               Means of Objectification, Alberta Rural Development Network Annual Conference, ACAD
2012      Faculty Exhibition, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Invitational, Alberta College of Art + Design
              Exposure Launch, Peter Lougheed House, Invitational, Calgary, AB
2011     Making Faces, Truman Medical Center, Solo, Curator: John Bluford, Kansas City, MO
2010     Making Faces, Truman Medical Center, Solo, Curator: John Bluford, Kansas City, MO
2009     Wow Works by Gallery Artists, Byron Cohen Gallery, Invitational, Kansas City MO
2008     Alberta Contemporary Photography, Triangle Gallery, Invitational, Calgary, AB
             Good Medicine, Documentary Film, Calgary, AB
             Faculty Exhibition, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Invitational, Alberta College of Art + Design
             Solar Decathlon, Alberta Team, ACAD Co-Chair, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington D.C.
2007    31st Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, National Juried, Monroe, LA
             Ten Year Anniversary Exhibition, Keki Gallery, Invitational, Budapest, Hungary
             Zip It, Scooter Gallery, National Juried, Seattle, WA
             Louisiana Art Council Annul Exhibition, Dixie Art Center, Invitational, Ruston, LA
             One-Ton Ziggurat, Performance, Mojacar, Spain
             Three Hungarians, Office of the Dean, Invitational, Alberta College of Art + Design
             Refridgerator, Curator, Gerry Thomas Gallery, Calgary, AB
2006    Body Language, Smoyer Gallery, Roanoke College, Solo, Roanoke, VA
             Heading Home, Southern Light Gallery, Solo, Amarillo, TX
             Faces of India, Tolliver Hall, Solo, Louisiana Tech University
             Eye of the Beholder 1, Visual Arts Center, Solo, Louisiana Tech University
             Autoaesthesia, Invitational, Alberta College of Art + Design
             Art in Transit, Santa Fe Art Institute, Invitational, Santa Fe, NM
             Portraits= of a Region 2, Museum of Art, Invitational, University of Louisiana at Monroe
             Faculty Exhibition, E.J. Bellocq Gallery, Invitational, Louisiana Tech University
2005    Face to Face, Sykes Gallery, Millersville University, Solo, Millersville, PA
             Kern and Lipski, Byron Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art, Two-Person, Kansas City, MO
             Photo National, Lancaster Museum of Art, National Juried, Lancaster, PA
            Close to Home, Hilles Gallery, National Juried, New Haven, CT
            National Spring Open, Wayne Art Center, National Juried, Wayne, PA
            Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University, National Juried, Nacogdoches, TX
            San Francisco International, Fort Mason Center, National Juried, San Francisco, CA
            Portrait of a Region 1, Southeastern College Art Conference, Panelist, Little Rock, AK
            FSA: The South, Co-Curator, Lincoln Parish Public Library
            All Media Invitational, Curator, Louisiana Tech University School of Art
2004   5th Annual National Exhibition, Huber Art Center, National Juried, Shippensburg, PA
            La Fotoz Hatom? (May I Take Your Picture?), Biggin Gallery, Solo, Auburn, AL
            Identification Marks, Southern Light Gallery, Solo, Amarillo, TX
            Otherness, Art Center Gallery, Solo, Warrensburg, MO
            47th Annual International, San Diego Art Institute, International Juried, San Diego, CA
            Bethesda International, Fraser Gallery, International Juried, Washington, DC
            31st Annual National Juried, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
            20th Annual National Juried, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
            Surprise Show, Icebox Gallery, National Juried, Minneapolis, MN, 2004
            Art/House, National Juried, Margaret Thatcher Gallery for Contemporary Art, New York, NY
2003   Skin, Icebox Gallery, National Juried, Minneapolis, MN
            Exhibition of American Art, American Medical Association, National Juried, Chicago, IL
            National Spring Open, Wayne Art Center, National Juried, Wayne, PA
            Inventory Show, Byron C. Cohen Gallery, Invitational, Kansas City, MO
            Photo IV, Jan Dempsey Arts Center, Juried, Auburn, AL
2002   Whitewashed, Zoller Gallery, Solo, Pennsylvania State University
            Vehicles, SoFA Gallery, National Juried, Indiana University
            A Baker’s Dozen, Adam and Art Gallery, Invitational, Bellefonte, PA 
2001   False Index, Zoller Gallery, Performance, Pennsylvania State University
            Intersections, Adam and Art Gallery, Invitational, Bellefonte, PA    

    

Bibliography
2018    Limbo, Alberta Views Magazine, July/Aug 2018, Vol 21 No 6, Pg 21
2017    Camper Obscura, Block Magazine, Pgs 42 – 43, Luc Rinaldi, Spring/Summer 2017, Issue 14
             Camper Obscura: Blog: Off the Beaten Path with Chris and Connie, September 6, 2017
             Mediations On Reality, Blog: The Works International Visual Art Society, Yang Lim, June 28, 2017
             Cool Inventions: Camera Obscura, Maclean’s YouTube Video, March 9, 2017
              I Am Western, Off Limits Arts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa4-rt_otSA, Feb 22, 2017
             Seeing Light in a Dark Room, Brainspace Magazine, Catherine Little, Pgs. 32-34, Winter 2017
2016    Bright Idea: Oversize Camera Obscura, Rosemary Counter, Maclean’s Magazine Pgs. 44-45, Nov 20, 2016
             Behind the Scenes at the Calgary Intl. Film Festival, M. Gandour, lphotojournalist.ca, Oct 4, 2016
             Mobile Camera Obscura, Sean Lindsay, ACAD Youtube Channel, Sept 30, 2016
             Pretty, Pretty, Bang, Bang, Josie Lukey and Jodey Brak, Calgary Journal, July, 7, 2016
             Faculty Profile, Viewbook, Alberta College of Art + Design, April 2016
2014    Not A Love Story, Photo Editor, University of Toronto Press, Non-Fiction, 2014
             Good Medicine, ARDN Rural Connector, Andrea Collins, May 1, 2014
2012    CTV Morning Live, TV Appearance with Jefferson Humphries, June 13, 2012
2011    Every Pixel Tells a Story, Heather McCoy, Calgary Herald, Page D2, Feb 5, 2011
2009    A Chair Was Not Enough, Catalogue, Museo Civico d’Arte, Milan, Italy, 2009
2008    Alberta Contemporary Photography, Catalogue, Triangle Gallery, 2008
             Alberta Contemporary Photography, Jennifer McVeigh, Galleries West Magazine, Jan 2008
2007    Design Talks, Public Design, Issue 7, Winter 2007
             New Faculty Profile, Viewbook, Alberta College of Art and Design, March 2007                                                                    
2006    Misc. Parts Make Meaningful Whole, Hunter Ingalls, Amarillo Globe-News: Art Beat, Dec 10, 2006 
             India Exhibition in Tolliver Gallery, Judith Roberts, Ruston Daily Leader, Pg 3, March 20, 2006
             Exhibition Debuts in New Gallery, Judith Roberts, Ruston Daily Leader, Pg 3A, March 19, 2006
             Faces of India Debuts March 20 in Tolliver Gallery, Sally Hollis, News@Tech, Monday March 13, 2006
2005    Texas National, Catalogue, Stephen F. Austin State University Art Center, Nacogdoches, Texas, 2005
             Photo National 2005, Catalogue, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2005
             La Fotoz Hatom, Maureen Gallagher, The Penn Stater, Page 63, Vol. 92, No. 6, July/Aug 2005
             Cohen Gallery Exhibits Works by Kern, Lipski, Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, Pg 19A, Friday Feb 25, 2005
             Face to Face: Works by Mitch Kern, Stefan Piscitelli, The Snapper, Thursday, Feb 17, 2005
             Amarillo Museum Comes Through, Hunter Ingalls, The Amarillo Globe-News, Page 11, Jan 7, 2005
2004    A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words, Ed Enoch, Opileka-Auburn News, Pages 1C & 3C, Nov 14, 2004
             Scene/Unseen, Catalogue, 11th Annual Biennial, Runnels Gallery, Eastern New Mexico University, 2004
             Cultural Exhibit Promotes Diversity, Jessica Otwell, Auburn Plainsman, Page C6, Oct 14, 2004
             Hungary as Seen by Mitch Kern, Barb Bondy, Opelika-Auburn News, Page 3C, Oct 6, 2004
             Jule Collins Museum of Fine Art, Catalogue, Auburn University, Page 6, October-Dec, 2004
            Art Professor Takes Show on American Tour, Becky Gist, The Tech Talk, Vol. 79, #3, Sept 30, 2004
            Semiotics and Visual Culture, Deborah L. Smith-Shank, NAEA Press, Cover, Pages 1 - 4, 2004
            Close-Ups of Hungary, Sallie Rose Hollis, Monroe News- Star, Monroe, Louisiana, Page 3B, Sept 19, 2004
            Artworks Make Cross-Country Tour, Sallie Rose Hollis, Ruston Daily Leader, Page 1C, Sept 19, 2004
            International Exhibition Opens in Balatonfured, Katalin Hamori, Magyar Nemzet Daily, Pg 5, Aug 12, 2004
            Combined Talents: Florida International, Catalogue, Florida State University, Museum of Fine Arts, 2004
            30th Annual Westmoreland Art Nationals, Catalogue, Westmoreland County Community College, 2004
             Images Cause Viewer to Contemplate Labels, Hunter Ingalls, Amarillo Globe-News, Pg 10D, June 6, 2004
             Looking Deeper, Chip Chandler, The Amarillo Globe-News, Vol. 4 #142, Page 8, May 21, 2004
             Artifacts, Catalogue, University Art Gallery, Midwestern State University, 2004
2003    Exhibition of American Art, Catalogue, American Medical Association, 2003
             A Question of Identity, Chris Junker, Postpicasso.com, Aug 1, 2003
             Taking Stock of Multiculturalism, Robin Trafton, Kansas City Star, Page 31, July 25, 2003
             Genetics in Medicine, Vol. 5, Number 3, Page 123, Cover, May/June 2003
             Professor Wins First Place Prize, University of Central Missouri News, Page 5, March 24, 2003
             How Deep Can Skin Go, Thomas O’Sullivan, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Pages E1-E3, March 16, 2003
             Minneapolis Shows Skin, Mary Abbe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Page E20, March 7, 2003
             National Art Education Association Exhibition, Catalogue, 2003
             Digital 2003, Catalogue, Sinclair College, 2003
             Face Value, Matt Peiken, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Feb 28, 2003
             19th Annual Photography Competition, Catalogue, Hays Art Center, 2003
             23rd Annual Spring Fine Arts Show, Catalogue, Warrensburg Community Center, 2003
2002    Exhibit Faces Themes of Cultural Homogeneity, Jessica Scott, Penn State Daily Collegian, March 22, 2002
   
Grants and Awards 
2017    Upside down and Backwards, The Works International Visual Arts Society, Edmonton, AB
             Edge of the Wild, Off Limits Arts, King Edward/C-Space, Performance, Invitational, Calgary, AB
2015    Camper Obscura, Beakerhead Creative Society/Calgary Foundation, Calgary, AB
2008    Good Medicine, Health Canada, Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes, ACAD
2007    Artist Residency, Fundacion Valparaiso, Mojacar, Spain
2006    6th Annual National Exhibition, Purchase Award, Huber Art Center/Shippensburg University
2005    Artist Residency, Kanoria Center for the Arts, Ahmedabad, India 
             Women and Architecture in NW India, Louisiana Tech University
             31st Annual Juried Competition, Purchase Award, Masur Museum of Art
2004    31st Annual National Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention, Masur Museum of Art
             5th Annual National Exhibition, Third Place Award, Huber Art Center/Shippensburg University
             Artist Residency, Hungarian Multicultural Center, Budapest, Hungary
             Camera Obscura Classroom, Louisiana Tech University
2003    Exhibition of American Art, First Place Award, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
2002    Whitewash, Pennsylvania State University
             Community Project Grant, Rural Portraits, University of Central Missouri
2001    Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Pennsylvania State University
2000    Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Pennsylvania State University
1995    Undergraduate Scholarship in Visual Arts, Paramount Pictures

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Service Record
2018    Juror, Photography Awards Showcase, Alberta Magazine Publishing Association
             Juror, People’s Portrait Prize, C-Space King Edward
             Donor, Rosalie Heibert Memorial Scholarship Silent Auction, ACAD
             Health and Safety Committee, ACAD
             Neutral Chair, MFA Thesis Defense, ACAD
             Panelist, Alumni Awards, ACAD
2017    Visiting Artist, Calgary Board of Education, Tom Baines Jr High School
              Juror, Photography Awards Showcase, Alberta Magazine Publishing Association
             Curator’s Talk: Blind Spot: Blackout, Fina 450, ACAD
             Graduate Faculty, ACAD
             Finance + Audit Committee, Board of Governor’s, ACAD 
             MFA Supervisory Committee, ACAD
             Graduate Studies Standing Committee, ACAD
             Graduate Procedures Working Group, ACAD
             Research Advisory Committee, ACAD
             Research Advisory Working Group, ACAD
             Vision, Mission and Values Advisory Committee, ACAD
             Student Space Taskforce, Health and Wellness Committee, ACAD
             School of Visual Art Council, ACAD
             Faculty Professional Affairs Funding Committee, ACAD
             Portfolio Reviews, Precollege Program, ACAD
2016    Visiting Artist, Calgary Board of Education, Chapparal Middle School
             Curriculum Assessor, SIM University, Singapore
             Juror, Photography Awards Showcase, Alberta Magazine Publishing Association
             Essential Skills Profile, Interviewee, Skills Canada
             Vice President + Treasurer, Faculty Association, ACAD
             Finance + Audit Committee, Board of Governor’s, ACAD
             Vision, Mission and Values Advisory Committee, ACAD
             Student Space Taskforce, Health and Wellness Committee, ACAD
             School of Visual Art Council, ACAD
             Faculty Professional Affairs Funding Committee, ACAD
             Graduate Studies Standing Committee, ACAD
             MFA Supervisory Committee, ACAD
             Scholarships + Awards Committee, Photography, ACAD
             Faculty Sponsor, Creig Memorial Gallery, ACAD
             Formal Evaluation Committee, ACAD
             Portfolio Reviews, Precollege Program, ACAD
2015    Juror, Photography Awards Showcase, Alberta Magazine Publishing Association
            Curriculum Assessor, SIM University, Singapore
             Juror, Photography Contest, Alberta Views Magazine
             Panelist, Your Grad School App, Society for Photographic Education, Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA
             Artist Talk, Collecting Photographs, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
             Career Development Workshop, College Art Association, Chicago, IL
             Donor, Exposure Photography Festival, Calgary, AB
             Juror, AIMIA/AGO Photography Scholarship, Art Gallery of Ontario
             Vice President + Treasurer, Faculty Association, ACAD
             Finance + Audit Committee, Board of Governor’s, ACAD 
             Graduate Studies Standing Committee, ACAD
             Research Advisory Committee, ACAD 
             Student Fee Consultation Committee, ACAD
             Faculty Sponsor, Creig Memorial Gallery, ACAD
             Health + Wellness Task Force, ACAD
             Subject Area Specialist, NASAD Reaccreditation Team, ACAD
             Portfolio Reviews, Precollege Program, ACAD
2014     Juror, AIMIA/AGO Photography Scholarship, Art Gallery of Ontario 
              Alumni Board, School of Visual Arts, Pennsylvania State University
              Vice President + Treasurer, Faculty Association, ACAD
              Research Advisory Committee, ACAD
              Subject Area Specialist, NASAD Reaccreditation Team, ACAD
              Student Fee Consultation Committee, ACAD
              Health + Wellness Task Force, ACAD
              Visiting Artist Committee, School of Visual Art, ACAD
              Faculty Sponsor, Creig Memorial Gallery, ACAD
              Documentation Lighting Workshop, Open House, ACAD
2013     Career Development Workshop, College Art Association, New York, NY
              Alumni Board, School of Visual Arts, Pennsylvania State University
              Panel Discussion Moderator, Art and Commerce, ACAD
              Panel Discussion Moderator, Best Practices in Photography, ACAD
              Student Fee Consultation Committee, ACAD
              Photography Info Sessions, ACAD
              Documentation Lighting Workshop, Open House
2012     Career Development Workshop, College Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
              Volunteer, Nuit Blanche, Calgary, Alberta
              Academic Executive, ACAD
              Rank and Promotion Committee, ACAD
              Writing Centre Volunteer, ACAD
              Scholarships + Awards Committee, ACAD
              Strategic Academic Unit Plan, ACAD
2011     Graduate School Workshop, ACAD
              Budget Committee, ACAD
2010     Academic Council, ACAD
              Academic Executive, ACAD
              Digital Mash, Computing Workshop, ACAD
2009     Academic Council, ACAD
              Academic Executive, ACAD
              Digital Boot Camp, Computing Workshop, ACAD
               “Who Want’s to go to Graduate School?”, Professional Workshop, ACAD
2008     Acquisitions Consultant, Ryerson University Library and Archives, Toronto, Ontario
              Steering Committee, Exposure Photography Festival, Calgary, AB
              Aboriginal Communities Working Group, Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes
              Program Advisor, Four by Five Gallery, Calgary, AB
              Artist Talk, The Thrill of Modernism, Art and Design Now
              Program Coordinator, NASAD Self Study, ACAD
              Academic Council, ACAD
              Academic Executive, ACAD
              Donor, Rosalee Heibert Memorial Scholarship, ACAD
2007      Aboriginal Communities Working Group, Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes
               Steering Committee, Exposure Photography Festival, Calgary, AB
               Portfolio Reviews, University of Calgary
               Panelist, Invisible/Visible, Craft Symposium
               Coordinator, NASAD Self Study, Photography Program
               Academic Council, ACAD
               Academic Executive, ACAD    
               Donor, Rosalee Heibert Memorial Scholarship, ACAD
               Donor, Art Attack, ACAD
2006      Steering Committee, Exposure Photography Festival, Calgary, AB
               Diversity Advisory Committee, ACAD
               Artist Talk, Rethinking India, Tolliver Hall, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Program Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Faculty, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Exhibitions Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Academic Advisor, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
2005      Artist Talk, Seeing is Believing, Barnwell Art Center, Shreveport, LA 
               Artist Talk, Your Voice Not Mine, National Art Education Assoc, National Conference, Boston, MA
               Photography Coordinator, Southeast Journalism Conference, Louisiana Tech University
               Juror, Black Bayou Photo Contest, National Wildlife Refuge, Monroe, LA 
               Camera Obscura Workshop, Ruston High School, Ruston, LA 
               Panelist, Public Art Program, Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Baton Rouge, LA
               Donor, Ruston High School, Ruston, LA
               Exhibitions Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Faculty, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Program Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Academic Advisor, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
2004      Artist Talk, Through the Lens, Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn, AL 
               Panelist, Public Art Program, Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Baton Rouge, LA
               Panelist, Public Art Program, Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Shreveport, LA
               Donor, North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston, LA
               Exhibitions Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Faculty, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Graduate Program Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Academic Advisor, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
2003      Exhibition Committee, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University 
               Academic Advisor, School of Art, Louisiana Tech University
               Artist Talk, The Digital Educator, Missouri Higher Education Conference, Osage, MO
               Book Reviewer, The Focal Press, Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford, England
               Executive Board, Phi Delta Kappa International, University of Central Missouri
               Photo Editor, Phi Delta Kappa International, University of Central Missouri
               Faculty Sponsor, CMSU Photo Society, University of Central Missouri
2002      Faculty Sponsor, CMSU Photo Society, University of Central Missouri
               Executive Board, Phi Delta Kappa International, University of Central Missouri
                Photo Editor, Phi Delta Kappa International, University of Central Missouri