New Mexico Division Representatives
Division Directors represent and advocate the issues and concerns of their specific division level as they pertain to art education in New Mexico. They are a point of contact for the New Mexico art educators specific to their division statewide, regardless of membership.
Melissa DeMaagd (she/her), Elementary Division Representative
Albuquerque Public Schools, Elementary Art Teacher
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Melissa is an art educator with the Albuquerque Public Schools Fine Arts Program for the last eight years. She is a mentor teacher through the APS Mentor Program as well as a cooperating teacher for UNM. She believes creating art allows you to be human and enables a unique medium of self-expression. She loves weaving and spending time outdoors hiking, cycling and climbing. She got her masters in Art Education at UNM in 2015. She is excited about her new position as NMAEA Elementary Division Representative and looks forward to connecting with other elementary art educators across the state.
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Contact Melissa at elementaryrep@newmexicoarteducators.org
Pam Elam, Middle School Division Representative
Contact Pam at middleschoolrep@newmexicoarteducators.org
Jill Dooner (she/her), High School Division Representative
Explore Academy (Albuquerque), Art Educator
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Jill Dooner is a Level III Visual Arts teacher at Explore Academy Charter School. While working as a pastry chef with an undergraduate degree in art, she decided to go back to school for licensure to teach art, ultimately earning an MA Ed from the University of New Mexico. After spending nine years in the Rio Rancho school district, she chose to become part of of a fledgling charter school. Collaborating with eleven colleagues to create a school from a concept is a career highlight. Still at the school which is now in its fifth year, Jill serves as the department head for electives, and teaches classes in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.
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Richard Schwartz, Higher Education Division Representative
Eastern New Mexico University, Associate Professor of Music
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Marissa G. Mascareñas (she/her), Pre-Service Division Representative
University of New Mexico, Undergraduate in Art Education
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Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico Marissa grew up in the culturally rich
South Valley area. The same area where Marissa would later become part of the
Albuquerque public school system before moving on to higher education. She would
then join Apprenticeships For Leaders In Mosaic Arts also known as A.L.M.A right after
graduating from high school. This is where she would immerse herself in a diverse
group of young artists from around the city with the purpose of designing and
constructing a mural for the city. Immediately after Marissa attended Central New
Mexico Community College; proudly and enthusiastically earning her Associate in Fine
Arts. With a thirst for knowledge and experience, Marissa would later transfer to the
University of New Mexico majoring in Art Education with a focus in Ceramics. Currently
attending the University of New Mexico, Marissa is developing her teaching pedagogy
based on critique and communication. Inspired by the Reggio Emelia Approach, she
pulls the use of documentation heavily rooted in the values of that pedagogy and
applies it to her own. Valuing the ability of students to effectively communicate not only
their work but also the work of their peers. Marissa explores the documentation practice
of accordion journaling; creating multiple accordion journals based on ceramics and Art
Education to further her understanding of the content. By reflecting on her thoughts and
ideas based on these topics, Marissa is able to create long-term mind maps of these
concepts. Wanting to reflect on this practice in her own class one day, she hopes to
build the confidence of young artists so that they are able to create deeper and more
meaningful conversations about their work.
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OPEN POSITION, Admin/Supervisor Division Representative
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Please reach out to one of our executive officers if interested in this position.
OPEN POSITION, Museum Division Representative
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Please reach out to one of our executive officers if interested in this position.
Phyllis Kennedy (she/her), Retired Division Representative
Retired Art Educator, Albuquerque
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Phyllis’ career in the arts and education started in second grade when she discovered overlapping all by herself. What a mind-blowing visual concept. She continued her studies at Kingswood Cranbrook (HS), RIT printmaking (BFA), and NYU photography (MA). In the early 00’s she served as executive director of the New Mexico Alliance for Arts Education during the time advocates were mobilizing to pass the 2003 Fine Arts Education Act. Inspired by the many arts educators and administrators involved in the targeted legislative advocacy campaign, she obtained a New Mexico elementary teaching license with Visual Art endorsement.
Phyllis taught for five years. She then proceeded to work for the state arts agency, New Mexico Arts - first as a contract researcher and writer, then on staff as a program coordinator and arts education manager for seven years. Since retiring from New Mexico Arts in June 2021, she has returned full circle to her arts practice. Her photographs can be found in the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Albuquerque Sunport (photograph relocated to City Hall after 9/11 renovations), and the City of Albuquerque Public Art collection.
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Amy Tanner (she/her), Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Liaison
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