Donalyn Heise

Dr. Donalyn Heise is one of the founders and Co-Director of the TEAL Project, and Associate Professor of Art Education at the University of Memphis. Dr. Heise has been an artist and educator for more than 30 years and has taught art in K-12 public and private schools and several universities. Her research focuses on art teacher preparation, fostering resilience through art, and community art collaborations.

Dr. Heise has designed and conducted over 100 professional development workshops and presentations at the state, regional and national levels. She served as Director for the Center for Innovation in Art Education, Director of the Paul R Williams Project Education, President of the Tennessee Art Education Association, President of the Nebraska Art Teachers Association, Founding board member of the Nebraska Alliance for Art, and Education Advisory Committee of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. As Art and Technology Coordinator for ConferNet, she designed, implemented, and evaluated professional development for six school districts, and coordinated one of the nation’s first virtual art-based academic K-16 conferences funded by the United States Department of Education.

Awards and accomplishments include the 2013 Tennessee Special Needs Art Educator of the Year award, 2010 Tennessee Art Educator of the Year, the 2010 NAEA Southeastern Region Higher Ed award, the 2009 NAEA VSA CEC Beverly Levett Gerber Special Needs Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007 Tennessee Higher Ed Art Educator of the Year and the Nebraska Art Teachers’ Association Supervisor /Administrator of the Year Award,