About the Author

Desiree Matia

Hi There! My name is Desiree Matia, and I am an Adjunct Instructor at The Art of Education University. I am an artist and arts educator based in Pittsburgh, PA. I currently work as a District Content Coach in the Arts, providing professional development and coaching for teachers in Visual Art, Music, and Movement. I have eleven years of experience teaching Visual Art in grades K–12, but my passion is high school art, where I spent my most recent time in the classroom. As a practicing artist, I have taught summer programs and workshops specific to my work, teaching in both formal and informal capacities. Through classroom teaching and coaching, I have become very familiar with AOEU as an asset to art teachers and, ultimately, the students we serve.

I graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 2008. After teaching art for a few years, I decided to really focus my passion for artistic practice, so I temporarily left the classroom to pursue my graduate degree. I moved to Savannah, GA, and graduated with a Master in Fine Arts in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design in November 2015. My professional interests include culturally responsive pedagogy and equity in the arts. I hope my students will build confidence and agency through the arts and be able to carry that outside of my classroom to create positive change in their world.

Outside of teaching, I keep a studio practice in painting and mixed-media design, and really just making things and being creative. I live with my husband and two pugs, enjoying as much outside time and as many walks as we can with Pittsburgh weather. We love to try new restaurants, go to comedy shows, and hang out by a nice backyard fire. I am thrilled to be a part of the AOEU team and share my passion with other art educators!

Professional Accomplishments:

MA in Fine Arts and Painting, Savannah College of Art and Design | 2015

BS in Art Education, Indiana University of Pennylvania | 2008