Grounds for Art

I had the honor of studying under Dr. Teresa Unseld, whom I call Dr. T, during my master’s program in Art and Design Education at the University of the Arts. She served as my professor and thesis mentor, guiding me through the rigorous process of graduate research with clarity, patience, and insight. I hold Dr. T in the highest regard as a professor, an artist, and a community advocate. Her leadership in developing programs, her passion for empowering students, and her dedication to art education and community cultural development have profoundly shaped my own career, both professionally and artistically. Now, as I pursue my work as a professional in higher education, continue my teaching practice, and advance in my doctoral studies, I can proudly say that Dr. T has been a true inspiration guiding my path as an educator, scholar, and artist, reminding me of the power of the arts to engage, uplift, and transform communities.

Dr. Teresa Unseld is a uniquely talented professional whose work as both an artist and educator has impacted our great nation. I have followed her career through my four decades retiring as a Military Officer, serving as a Staff Director in Congress, and working in the Corporate and Government sector in Senior positrons.  I’ve collected numerous pieces of her art work and attended her numerous jaw dropping teaching events.  She is a “military brat” born overseas while attending schools in two different countries.  She served our nation running the Art Program for Department of Defense in Italy (Camp Darby).  Her patriotism drove her to support our military soldiers and dependents.  She promotes the arts with unmatched patriotism!

I am deeply inspired by Teresa Unseld's unwavering commitment to community development through the arts. Her teaching embodies the artistic process itself—a cycle of experimentation, adaptation, and imagining new possibilities. This mindset is critical in my own organization, where we merge financial literacy with innovation. Teresa's work serves as a potent reminder that the arts are not merely enriching; they are essential for building stronger, more vibrant communities.

With more than twenty years of college teaching experience, an ongoing clinical practice, and specializing in work with individuals and families dealing with post traumatic issues, depression, anxiety and challenges that follow forced displacement, including acculturative stress, and intimate partner violence, I have found Dr. Unseld’s approach to art in teaching and research to have a significant impact on people who need an “out of the box” approach to healing. In addition, I have observed her art classes and as a proud owner of several of her unique and inspiring personalized cards, I am appreciative of Dr. Unseld’s originality, creativity and generous spirit. Given these reasons, I would highly encourage the community to take full advantage of these gifts through Grounds for Art’s programs and offerings.

Teresa Unseld was a stellar colleague who brought a new kind of energy to the U. of Ky Art Department. She, herself, is articulate, organized, and expects high standards of herself as well as of her students. Teresa’s courses are cross disciplinary and multicultural in approach. She builds alliances, alliances that benefited not only Art Education but our entire Department.