Mollie Rushing is the recipient of the 2014 Mississippi Art Education Association Art Educator of the Year.One of Delta State’s own shined brightly at the recent Mississippi Art Education Association conference held in Jackson last month.
Mollie Rushing, longtime instructor of art education, was awarded the 2014 MAEA Outstanding Art Educator of the Year. MAEA is an organization of art educators who are passionate in their commitment to art and developing creative processes to benefit students across Mississippi.
The organization is affiliated with the National Art Educators Association, a major resource for art educators nationwide.
“I’m very honored to receive this award,” said Rushing. “I’m so thankful to be voted in by art educators across the state. I love what I do, and it’s hard for me to accept the award when it’s really the teachers in K-12 who deserve all the credit. They are the ones doing the lion’s share of work.”
Rushing, who has been a member of the NAEA since 1979, said it was incredibly gratifying attending the MAEA conference and interacting with a number of her former students — many of whom are now members or on the board of directors.
After completing her master’s in art education at East Tennessee State University in 1986, Rushing and her husband Kim, a photography instructor at Delta State, moved to Texas and North Carolina to teach.
Kim started teaching photography at Delta State in 1992, and Mollie began teaching Art 101 in 1994. For the past 12 years, Rushing has been leading the art education program at the university.
While she has personally dabbled in a number of artistic genres, Rushing’s true passion is quilting — an art form she says combines her love for watercolors, architectural ceramics and weaving.
Ron Koehler, chair of the Department of Art, was thrilled to see Rushing recognized for her educational commitment.
“Mollie has done an outstanding job preparing students for teaching positions throughout Mississippi and other parts of the country,” said Koehler. “This award is going to a highly deserving faculty member in our department who has been an impactful teacher for many years.”
Students also share high praise for Rushing’s leadership.
“Mollie really focuses on teaching us how to teach our students the importance of connecting art to everyday life,” said student Faith Barnett. “She not only stresses the importance of education, but she treats all of her students as if they’re her own family. It’s helpful to have someone so eager.”
Rushing remains humble and looks forward to guiding present and future art teachers.
“The most important thing is seeing teachers out there working and making a difference,” she said. “My job is fun — they’re the ones really working hard.”
Learn more about the MAEA at www.msarted.org.
