B.A. Studio Art, 2006
Art Teacher Certification, 2009
Current Role: Middle School Art Teacher
Natalie Shadel graduated from Judson’s Studio Art program in 2006 and later ventured into the world of art education. Her experience at Judson developed her view of the artists’ role in the world and society, and instilled a passion for connecting local communities to the arts. Beginning with internships in college, Natalie contributed to public art projects and events in Elgin and Chicago, which deepened her conviction that the arts can make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Impassioned by a eagerness to share her enthusiasm for art, creative problem-solving and critical thinking, Natalie returned to her alma mater to become a certified art educator in 2009. She is now entering her seventh year teaching art to 6th-8th graders at Dundee Middle School where she is excited about teaching the gravity and potential of art and art-making to students. For her, it feels like an ideal avenue for inspiring others to make connections between art and the world they live in, teaching students not only artistic skills, but the importance of being avid observers, interpreters and creators of the visual language that surrounds us.