Our Instructors

Mark Alan Anderson is an art educator and the visual art coordinator for the North Kansas City School District. Anderson earned a B.S.E. degree in art education at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg and a M. Ed. degree in art education at the University of Missouri where he also completed the doctoral program. He has been honored with the MAEA Art Educator of the Year Award and was a Missouri Teacher of the Year finalist. Anderson is the owner/operator of Idea Design.

Carolyn Berry, who holds a Master of Science in education, has been teaching art for 22 years. She also has worked in college admissions, museum education and business. For the last 16 years, she has been working in Lawrence, Kan., where she has teaches drawing, painting, digital imaging and Advanced Placement Studio Art.

Berry is passionate about teaching students how to experiment using technology to mix media with digital tools. She is a hands-on instructor who likes to present a variety of options in the classroom along with time for collaboration among workshop participants. Students in Berry’s classes can expect to see written curriculum and student examples with extra lesson ideas.

Kim Bitner-Drottz’s career has provided a variety of experiences working in interior design, architecture and education. Currently she owns a small art education and design firm that allows her to work and play with interior design clients and art students. She also works for Liberty Public School District, assisting those with special needs.

Bitner-Drottz employs an exploratory and open approach to teaching, where ideas are encouraged to grow and thrive through development and exploration. She teaches through examples, instruction and demonstration. She loves when students learn by creating and experiencing various methods and media.

Alice Broughton, who graduated from KCAI in 1995, has worked at advertising agencies and magazine publishers in Illinois and Texas, as well as freelanced for magazines in Texas. Prior to teaching, Broughton spent 22 years working as a technical artist at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Mo.

Broughton likes her classroom to have an amiable atmosphere. She uses examples to illustrate concepts and methods and emphasizes the importance of basic skills. Broughton believes in positive feedback and thinks that students help each other grow. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged.

Brett Chenoweth earned a B.F.A. degree in photography with a minor in art history from Washington University in St. Louis in 1986 and a B.F.A. degree in painting from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1989. He went on to earn a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in literature, creative writing, art, philosophy and theology from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt. in 1999.

Chenoweth has taught continuing education courses in figure drawing at Maine College of Art in Portland and has taught as an adjunct instructor in the disciplines of English, art history, drawing and painting at various community colleges. He currently is an instructor in the Kansas City Art Institute’s Continuing and Professional Studies program and its Pre-College ArtLab. His goal in each class is to work with each student to help foster their unique, creative voice.

Dan Dakotas has been teaching for 40 years and holds an M.A. degree in art education from the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He was as an art educator for Shawnee Mission West High School from 1971 to 2007. He also has taught at Baker University in Baldwin, Kan., the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Johnson County Community College, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Dakotas has volunteered as an art educator for several organizations around Kansas City, including Mattie Rhodes Art and Counseling Center and Christo Rey High School.

Dakotas has earned numerous honors and awards for his art and as a teacher throughout his career, including the Excellence in Teaching Award for Kansas City, the Kansas Outstanding Secondary Art Instructor Award, the American Institute of Architects Education Award, the State of Kansas Governor’s Art Award, the Hand-in-Hand Teacher Award, the Power of Art Award, the Photo Educator Award for the Contemporary Photography Society of Kansas City and the Johnson County, Kansas, Shooting Stars Teacher Award.

Dakotas’s philosophy as a teacher is to promote a student-focused learning environment that incorporates teacher-centered as well as student-centered methods of instruction. For example, his courses start with lectures and demonstrations regarding techniques, materials and media that quickly lead to implementation of project design and construction. Dakota encourages an atmosphere that is friendly, non-threatening and conducive to creative learning. The goal is to provide students with skills and techniques to enhance their own creativity as artists.

Henry Dixon holds an M.A. degree in graphic design from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society. From 1974 to 2006, Dixon worked at Hallmark Cards, and for seven years he taught at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo., as an adjunct professor. His work is included in the permanent collection at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

Dixon focuses on teaching through lecture as well as demonstration within the classroom, and he provides ongoing guidance and feedback. Once projects are completed, students engage in group critiques.

Ed Fenendael has taught painting for more than 30 years. His teaching experience includes being part of the Kansas City Art Institute's Continuing and Professional Studies program. Fenendael has received numerous awards for his work in painting and was named Master Artist of the Year by the Door County Art League in 2008. He teaches several workshops and classes annually.

Fenendael describes both the medium and his teaching of watercolor as exciting. Students will leave the class with a better understanding of the medium and the joy it can provide as a form of artistic expression.

Kevin Fullerton, owner of design firm Springboard Creative, has spent 22 years as a graphic designer, art director and creative director. Fullerton earned his B.S. degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and has been featured in a number of design books as well as having been the recipient of multiple design awards. Fullerton is president of the American Advertising Federation of Kansas City, serves on multiple college advisory boards and regularly serves as a guest speaker, judge and lecturer.

Fullerton promotes student interaction in a relaxed classroom environment and works to develop one-on-one relationships with students as they work. A significant part of the learning process in Fullerton’s classroom is group critique where students are encouraged to talk openly about each other's work. He believes that the critiquing process exposes students to methods of communication and feedback as it would be experienced in the working world of design and that it prepares them for a professional career in the creative arts.

Anne Gagel has been teaching Pre-College Art Lab since 2004 and from 2005-2006 was director of PCAL. Prior to working in the Continuing and Professional Studies department, Gagel worked in the admissions office at KCAI. From 2004-2010, Gagel was a substitute visual art instructor for the North Kansas City School District. Gagel earned a B.F.A. degree in painting from KCAI and an M.A. degree in art education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Gagel’s teaching philosophy is based on a structured but nurturing classroom. She creates a long-term plan leaving time and flexibility to address multiple learning styles. She enjoys teaching high school and college-age students and the energy and enthusiasm they provide. She encourages that energy in the classroom. Gagel’s goal is to generate the same passion she has for art and art-making in her classroom.

 Philip Hatterman has a Master of Arts in communication studies with a focus on rhetoric and public address from The University of Kansas. His background is in media and Web production, creative work, corporate training and higher education. He is the CEO/Agent of Innovation for Corkscrew Agency, a creative workshop that collaborates on innovative ideas for all media.

Barry Hincks, owner of Hincks Resources, specializes in graphic design, database design and design consultation. Hincks earned a B.F.A. degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles and an M.F.A. degree in communication design from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. He served as professor and chairman of the graphic design department at the University of Cincinnati and also has taught desktop publishing at Johnson County Community College. Later, Hinks was design manager for Hallmark Cards.

Hincks’ teaching methodology focuses on organizing course content around core design concepts, which are introduced in lectures and with supplemental visual demonstrations. He provides students with a set of course objectives and allows time for individual investigation, advising students in their research as needed. Hincks encourages personal expression wherever possible. Ongoing group critiques are conducted to promote a sense of camaraderie as well as check progress and reward successes.

Joe Hoffman comes to the Kansas City Art Institute with more than 15 years of experience in the interactive and online industries as a graphic designer, illustrator, creative/art director and user-experience specialist. Hoffman earned a B.F.A. degree in illustration and design from KCAI in 1996.

Hoffman’s teaching philosophy is geared toward providing students with as many tools as possible so they are able to make informed decisions in their work and so the work will stand on its own visual merit. He has a disciplined approach to visual arts and holds high expectations for his classes. When focusing on the fundamentals of 2-D design and color theory, Hoffman places a high degree of emphasis on Gestalt Theory, as well as the use of core visual principles and communication techniques.

Sharon Hunter-Putsch’s career has spanned both the instruction and administration sides of arts education. She earned an M.A. degree in studio art at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Hunter-Putsch served as vice president of academic affairs and academic dean at The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Conn.; an associate dean at Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C. where she later became director of admissions; and director of admissions at the Kansas City Art Institute. Her experiences led her to the positions of consultant and accreditation specialist at the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Having instructed high school and college art classes, Hunter-Putsch’s teaching philosophy centers on creating an environment that is relaxed but also energetic. She stresses the use of basic skills and encourages students to set ongoing individual goals.

Julia Jackson earned a B.A. degree in Asian studies in 2006 from Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. She teaches drawing in the style of Japanese manga and anime at the Kansas City Art Institute where she has been since 2009. Jackson also currently works at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Ford Learning Center. Previously she worked at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Jackson’s classes revolve around specific lesson plans, but she also provides flexibility to students based on individual needs. She utilizes a variety of approaches to class instruction throughout the course and emphasizes the development of personal styles alongside teaching various art-making techniques

Joel Jenkins has a working design background that spans both the corporate and academic worlds. Jenkins served as president of Have a Ball, LLC.; creative director at Clear Solutions eLearning Group at Sprint; and as an adjunct faculty member of writing and multimedia design at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jenkins describes his classroom as “an adventure in awareness.” Rather than teaching how the hammer works, he focuses on why it works and how to implement its use with successful outcomes. One of Jenkins main classroom objectives is to help students learn to problem solve as they work and then guide them in implementing solutions in the most effective way.

Linda Light has been teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute in the Continuing and Professional Studies department since 2002. Light has a B.F.A. degree in painting and ceramics and an M.A. degree in painting and photography from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. Light owned and operated Color Wheel Studio as well as the Santa Fe School of Art and has exhibited in more than 140 national and regional juried exhibitions. She has been awarded more than 30 national and regional art awards. Light is a member of the National Watercolor Society, the Society of Layerist in Multimedia and the Kansas Watercolor Society.

Light begins each class with a demonstration of techniques. The remaining class time is dedicated to working individually with each student, helping them to discover their own personal expression. Throughout the course, students are taught elements that contribute to strong composition, color and design.

Lisa Megahee earned a B.S. degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, spent three years as a botanical illustrator at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and then earned a B.F.A. degree in illustration and commercial art from Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. After graduating with honors from Ringling, Megahee was recruited by Hallmark where she spent 18 years as an illustrator and photo stylist. She has freelanced for a number of large companies, including The Disney Store, Hallmark Cards and Paramount Greeting Cards.

Megahee’s teaching methodology centers on creating a relaxed, non-pressured classroom environment and encouraging students to believe that they can create. Adults with little art experience are taught in a more fun and playful atmosphere, learning at their own pace. Megahee brings many years of design experience to her classroom, providing instruction on method as well as materials.

Kerry Meier earned his B.F.A. degree in graphic design from Wichita State University and studied architectural design at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Meier has been the senior art director at Kendal King Group since 2007 and has been awarded the AIGA Eco-Sensitive Design Award, an Addy Award, a Graphic Design USA Award, first place in the Miami Film Festival Poster Design Contest and first place in the Summit of the Americas Logo Contest.

Meier structures his classes by teaching technical skills, using examples and giving demonstrations. He asks students to complete assignments in a way that aids in their understanding of the steps and skill sets needed to complete specific tasks. When assigning projects, Meier chooses work that allows him to see student’s design work in progress. He listens to student concepts, reviews sketches and computer design work on screen and finishes the course with group-critiques of final projects.

For the past four years Melissa McCullough has been teaching elementary art in Liberty, Mo. During her undergraduate studies at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., she was awarded an art scholarship and later earned an M.A. degree in studio art from Drury. McCullough received her teaching certification from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

McCullough’s class allows students to make art in a relaxed atmosphere. As students learn various techniques and processes, she focuses on ensuring students are enjoying what they’re doing. The goal for McCullough’s class is that students will be inspired to create art within as well as outside of the classroom.

Bronwyn McLain has a long history with Kansas City Art Institute. She acquired her B.F.A. from KCAI  in Photography and Digital Media in 1997 and an additional degree in Art History in 2011. She has worked for KCAI Campus Technologies for many years, serving the last 5 as our Website Support technician.

From her own experience as a hybrid artist, student, alumnae, freelance website designer and developer, Bronwyn knows that technology should enhance, not impede, the creative process. Her classes introduce the basics of Mac OS and serve to familiarize the student with the KCAI lab environment and network tools so that students can feel confident from day one with the technologies available in their classroom.

Sara Murphy earned a B.F.A degree in painting from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2002, and an M.A. degree in special education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2006. She has been teaching in an urban school district in the Kansas City area for the past five years. In this position she combines her experience in art with her degree in special education to increase student achievement and interest.

Murphy believes in creating a safe and productive learning environment where students of any age can flourish. Her main class objectives are to encourage self-exploration and see the achievement of personal growth within students and their work.

 Pat Nemchock taught at Lawrence High School in Kansas for 34 years before becoming a continuing education instructor. Nemchock earned the Governor’s Art Award from the State of Kansas and has been an art consultant for the Blue Valley, Olathe, Liberty, Shawnee Mission and Lawrence School Districts. She has taught continuing education classes for KCAI, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Creative Educators Institute at MIAD.

Bryan Norris has been teaching youth classes for the Continuing and Professional Studies program at the Kansas City Art Institute where he earned a B.F.A. degree. Norris also taught in the Shawnee Mission School District as well as Saint Thomas More Elementary.

Norris’ teaching philosophy is that everyone has the capability to learn and understand any art medium at any age. He sees to it that students not only get what they want out of class, but also that they leave eager to learn more.

For 26 years Debra Payne taught drawing and painting courses at Liberty High School, including AP and dual-credit courses through the University of Missouri-Kansas City. For the three years prior she taught art classes at Leavenworth West Junior High. Payne was a three-time recipient of the Teacher of the Month award during her tenure at Liberty High and was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award. She also served on the governing board of MAEA for 10 years.

Payne has taught skills necessary to draw and paint from observation, using a variety of media and techniques, for many years. Payne focuses on clearly communicating goals, demonstrating skills and techniques, assessing student understanding and then re-teaching on an individual basis as needed. Classes are each designed with the inclusion of work done by others, vocabulary associated with the skills being studied and a periodic assessment or final critique of student work.

Kelsey Pike is a recent graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute where she earned a B.F.A. degree in art history and printmaking. Pike has taught merit badge courses at Theodore Naish Boy Scout Reservation and paper-making and book-binding courses at Kansas City Southeast Community Center. She is currently a program assistant and youth instructor for the Continuing and Professional Studies program at KCAI.

Pike begins each class with a demonstration of process and then allows students time to work independently. She believes the most important and satisfying experience is for students to make something of quality with their own hands from start to finish. Pike’s classes are structured to allow students this sense of accomplishment.

Desmond Poirier earned a B.F.A. degree in graphic design from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence and a M.L.A. degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State University in Manhattan. Since graduating from college, Poirier has worked in the advertising industry, graphic design industry and the landscape architecture and urban planning industry.

Poirier begins classes with presentations and live demonstrations of the skills and objectives being covered. He then observes and advises as students work independently on skills and objectives. Poirier communicates his curriculum through patience and leads by example.

After earning a B.F.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Dana Regan was a Hallmark Cards artist from 1983 to 1988. She has since been working as a children’s book author and illustrator. Regan has written seven books and illustrated more than 70.

Regan’s teaching methodology centers on encouraging each student’s growth and improvement. She has taught classes with skill levels ranging from beginner to professional. Regan focuses on giving each student individual attention. She believes every student can learn and benefit from a group classroom setting.

Ken Rizor is a welder/fitter for Peerless conveyer and previously worked as a production and shop manager at Rock Cottage Glassworks. His experience in these two fields is valuable to the way he makes his sculptures as well as to the knowledge he brings to the classroom.

Rizor’s course is based on independent study and exploration. Classes begin with an emphasis on safety in welding and instruction on using the shop tools. After two guided projects, students are expected to work in an open studio environment and create a sculpture using the skills taught in the first two lessons. Rizor focuses on creating an environment in which students feel comfortable and have fun with sculpture making.

Holly Schenk is a painter working in acrylic and pastel and shows her work in the Kansas City area. She has 20 years of teaching experience, having worked with of students of all ages, and she was an art director at Hallmark Cards for 12 years.

Schenk approaches each class with an “everybody CAN!” attitude. She believes that everyone’s handwriting is different and so should be their art. She treats each student with respect and recognizes individual needs and abilities.

Dennis Soden earned a B.S. degree in industrial technology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and an M.Ed. in instructional design from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a carpenter, custom woodsmith and furniture and cabinet maker. Soden has been teaching high school CAD and 3-D computer animation for 18 years.

Soden’s teaching method in the furniture making class focuses on demonstration and individual guidance.

Bill Thomas has 35 years of experience in photography. He is co-owner of Crick Camera Shop and is a fine art and landscape photographer, with work in both public and private collections. His work has been recognized by the Texas Professional Photographers Association with multiple awards in the commercial photography category.

Thomas’ classes combine lecture with individual, hands-on instruction. Presentations accompany each class and students also will go outside of the classroom to photograph.

Chun Wang earned a B.F.A. degree from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in Jiangxi province in China, and an M.F.A. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was an illustrator for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City from 1996 to 2007. In 2003 he was recognized as “Oil Painter of America” in the 12th Annual National Juried Exhibition and in 2009 was honored with a “Best of America” award from the National Oil and Acrylic Society.

Wang’s classes begin with lecture and demonstration, followed by hands-on assistance. By ongoing evaluation of student work, he determines strengths and weaknesses and assists in designing ways for improvement. Wang provides constructive criticism and individual feedback throughout the class.

Gwen Widmer is an artist and photographer. She earned an M.F.A. degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has exhibited in museums, art centers and galleries nationally. She has received two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in photography and is currently co-curator of Electromediascope, an international survey of contemporary experimental work in independent film, video and new media at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Widmer sees herself as a resource in a learning environment. She expects her students to have some idea about the kinds of photographs they want to make, to be independent and self-motivated and to take an active role in their own learning. Widmer gives students focused, individual attention and encourages students to be open to new ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism. She believes photography is fun and her goal is to make classes enjoyable and give students a productive learning experience.