ArtReach Internships

Over the years, The ArtReach Foundation has had the privilege to work with many talented interns from local universities.  One intern in particular, Erika Bianca Vinson, deserves special recognition.  Erika recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Georgia, and will soon be headed to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Fall 2007 where she will be enrolled in their Masters of Arts Degree Program of Art Therapy.

Erika worked with ArtReach during Spring/Summer 2006 collecting research data for her undergraduate thesis requirement of the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) Honors Program. Her thesis is titled Improving Student Welfare Through the Effective Teaching of Expressive Arts Activities Based in the Methods of Art and Drama Therapy. [Note: The above link offers an abstract of the thesis; the full thesis is available upon request.] She traveled with our team to Arkansas where she conducted interviews with participants in the ArtReach/Arkansas: Project Katrina workshops.

The ArtReach Foundation is most appreciative to have this ongoing scholarly relationship with the University, and would like to thank its associate director and coordinator of the CURO Honors Program, Dr. Pamela Kleiber, for the outstanding young students who have participated in the research of ArtReach programs.
We all wish Erika the very best for a successful and bright future in the field of the creative expressive arts. Hats off to her and to all her fine work thus far!

Pictured, Above Right: ArtReach Executive Director, Susan Anderson; Erika Vinson; UGA Professor and ArtReach Board Member, Dr. Pamela Kleiber .  Above Left:  Erika's thesis advisors and review committee: UGA Professors Dr. Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, and Dr. Richard Siegesmund; Erika Vinson; and ArtReach Executive Director, Susan Anderson.