University of North Texas 
"Holiday Horseplay" painting by Emily Holder, senior, Studio Art: Drawing and Painting.
"Season's Greetings" by Jazmine Garcia, senior, Communication Design: Graphic Design.
Welcome to the Friends of CVAD Update!
Message from Dean Hutzel
Dec. 17, 2024
Hello, Friends,
Karen Hutzel, Ph.D., Dean and Professor
As I reflect on this past semester, I am reminded of our alumni, friends, and supporters' incredible impact on the College of Visual Arts and Design. Your ongoing commitment strengthens our community, enabling our students to pursue their dreams in visual arts and design. Every success story reflects your belief in our mission to foster creativity and innovation.
Looking ahead, I'm excited to share a few highlights in this issue.
CVAD Celebrates: On March 29, 2025, our Art Building and Art Annex will host a special day of events open to the public. This event is a fantastic opportunity for the Denton, Dallas and Fort Worth communities to witness the creative talent thriving at CVAD. We hope you'll join us!
Creative U Summer Program: In summer 2025, our revamped Creative U program will provide rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and 2025 graduates a chance to explore their potential in the arts.
Scholarships, Fellowships: Thanks to generous donor support, we awarded more than $384,000 in scholarships and fellowships this year. These contributions empower our students, many of whom are first-generation college students, to focus on their education and future.
Labor of Luxury Exhibition: This exquisite showcase of artistry and fine craftsmanship is on display at the CVAD Gallery with one more guided tour offered on Jan. 25. We have hosted more than 1,190 visitors to the exhibition so far, and hope you will see it too before the show closes on Feb. 1.
As we approach the holiday season, we also honor the legacy of Robert William "Bill" McCarter Jr., a cherished faculty member and supporter of CVAD. Please consider contributing to the McCarter Scholarship in Art Education and Visual Arts Studies to help ensure his dedication to students continues to make a difference.
Your support inspires us daily and fuels the dreams of the next generation of artists and designers. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or a financial contribution, your generosity strengthens our mission of access, affordability, and excellence.
From all of us at CVAD, thank you for being part of our community. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful new year.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Karen Hutzel, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
College of Visual Arts and Design
#UNTCVAD Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
As CVAD's part of the UNT System, our actions, decisions, and approach to challenges and opportunities are guided by our shared values: Courageous Integrity, Curiosity, We Care, Better Together, and Show Your Fire!
CVAD Community Sparkles for the "Labor of Luxury" Exhibition
See the showcase of elegant fashion artistry highlighting intricate designs and embroidery
with pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.
The Sparkle of Craftsmanship: Indian Embroidery Takes Center Stage
Shimmering sequins, beadwork, and embroidery transform everyday garments into extraordinary fashion. These sophisticated techniques have captivated fashion lovers worldwide, yet few know their origin — India, the birthplace of these dazzling surface designs.
The CVAD Gallery's exhibition "Labor of Luxury: Embroidery from India to the World," open through Feb. 1, 2025, celebrates the artistry of Indian craftsmanship, showcasing the creativity and labor behind these exquisite designs. Featuring over 30 high-fashion garments from the Texas Fashion Collection adorned with intricate surface motifs, the exhibition highlights the works of renowned designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan, Mary McFadden, Todd Oldham, Dries Van Noten and Vera Wang.
The exhibition has been a resounding success, drawing diverse audiences and receiving glowing feedback. Guests have included CVAD students, faculty, and staff, high schoolers from Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School, board members, donors, and visitors from on and off campus. Some attendees even donned sequins for the opening reception! The show’s cultural relevance and exceptional quality have earned praise from many, including UNT’s president’s advisors and members of the UNT India Student Association. Read more and register for the upcoming guided tour of the exhibition.
🖌️ Guided Tour of "Labor of Luxury"
📅 Date: Jan. 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m.
📍 Location: CVAD Gallery, Room 160
64th Annual Paul Voertman Juried Student Art Competition & Exhibition
Renowned Artist and Alumna Celia Álvarez Muñoz Returns as Juror
Celia Álvarez Muñoz, who earned her M.F.A. in Studio Art: Photography in 1982, has spent decades creating conceptually driven works of art across a variety of mediums. This year, she returns as a judge for the 64th Annual Paul Voertman Juried Student Art Competition — an event that also took place during her time as a student, in its 20th, 21st, and 22nd years!
Over six decades, Muñoz has created immersive installations and works inspired by
family stories and her bicultural experiences. Read more.
UNT CVAD Studio Art M.F.A. Program is Enrolling Now!
The UNT CVAD Department of Studio Art is now accepting applications for the Master of Fine Arts program, which starts in Fall 2025! Why Apply?
- Generous fellowships and financial support for all accepted students
- Your own individual studio space
- Opportunities as teaching assistants, teaching fellows, or graduate student assistants
- A collaborative and interdisciplinary environment where you’ll grow alongside fellow artists
We welcome artists exploring ceramics, drawing & painting, metalsmithing & jewelry, new media art, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Applications are open through Feb. 1, 2025! Be part of an M.F.A. program that celebrates diverse practices, fosters deep studio engagement, and prepares you for a lifetime of meaningful contributions to the arts. Read more.
Alumni Highlights
Catch up with a few alums in the spotlight — even more on our Alumni Profiles page. May we include you? Create or update your alumni profile today!
Kristin Boyer
2024, M.F.A., Studio Art: Printmaking
Community Artist, Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Fort Worth, Texas
Congratulations to Kristin Boyer on her selection as an Amon Carter Community Artist. Every year, the Carter selects four local artists to assist with creating, planning, and leading experiences at the Museum and in the community. Kristin Boyer’s prints, sculptures, and fiber works creatively explore ways in which communication skills are developed through play. Read more.
Madeleine Fitzgerald Rood
2013, M.A., Art History
Manager, Adult Programming
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Fort Worth, Texas
Following her graduate studies, Madeleine Fitzgerald-Rood, a Texas native, served as the 2013-2014 McDermott Graduate Student Intern for Adult Programming and Arts & Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art. She then became the Education Coordinator for Programming at the DMA, a role she held from 2014 to 2018. Since then, Madeleine has been the Manager of Adult Programs at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to her professional work, she volunteers as the Board Treasurer for Texas Vignette, an arts non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and connecting women in the arts across Texas, primarily through events and the annual Texas Vignette Art Fair. Read more.
Matt Klug
1996, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Advertising Art and Creative Director
Sonoma, California
Matt Klug spent years as an art director before advancing to the role of creative director. Regardless of the title, his career has been defined by immersing himself in every facet of the creative process — developing strategic visions with teams and clients, and planning and executing content in partnership with production collaborators. He firmly believes that building strong relationships is the cornerstone of producing exceptional work and vital for brands to forge meaningful connections with people in today's world. Beyond the office, Klug co-directs and produces award-winning documentary films. This creative pursuit, he says, provides an opportunity to embark on adventures, collaborate with talented friends, and push his creative boundaries. Read more.
Javier Sandoval
2018, B.A., Art History with a teaching certificate
Middle School Art Teacher, Fort Worth ISD
Community Artist, Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Fort Worth, Texas
Congratulations to Javier Sandoval on his selection as an Amon Carter Community Artist. Sandoval is a Fort Worth-based Chicano visual artist, art historian and educator. As a first-generation Mexican American, Mr. Sandoval’s work is inspired by his cultural heritage, combining vibrant Mexican traditions with pop culture’s bold, contemporary energy. His work often explores themes of LGBTQ+ identity, personal and cultural heritage, and the blending of traditions in a modern context. Through his use of intricate patterns and rich, vivid colors, he invites viewers to reflect on how cultural heritage and modern influences shape identity in a constantly evolving society. Read more.
Katherine Santos
2023, M.A., Art Education
Contemporary Indigenous Art Internship, Harvard University
"Halito! Sv hochifo yvt Katherine Santos. Chahta-Apache sia hoke."
[Hello! My name is Katherine Santos (she/they). I am a member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb.]
Katherine Santos' graduate research at CVAD focused on contemporary material culture, dress and adornment, gender and feminist studies, museum methodologies, and the decolonization of museums. In 2023, Santos received the Contemporary Indigenous Art Internship at Harvard University's Tozzer Anthropology Library and Fine Arts Library, where she works now. This internship focuses on enhancing the representation of contemporary Indigenous art of North America in libraries' research collections. Read more.
Howard Sherman
2006, M.F.A., Studio Art: Drawing and Painting
Since receiving his Masters of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from UNT in 2006, Howard Sherman has been leading a new generation of bombastic contemporary painters in the Texas art world and beyond. Sherman’s large-scale canvases carry traces of his background in cartooning, offsetting the loud, raw power of his aggressive paint strokes with a playful sense of humor. His smaller works on paper show an intuitive use of material in a distilled yet assertive manner.
The large paintings facilitate the immense physicality within Sherman’s work, while leaving space for his keen sense of formal resolution. Read more.
Marie-Claire Graham Valdez
2021, Ph.D., Art Education
Director, Young Artist Programs, University of Texas, San Antonio
Marie-Claire Valdez has been teaching since 2004, beginning her career in community-based art programs at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, Dr. Valdez’s research focuses on community arts practices in the borderlands. She has shared her work as a speaker and through publications for The Texas Art Education Association and the International Society for Education Through Art. As the director of Young Artist Programs at UTSA-Southwest, she oversees over seven youth art programs, driving the expansion of community-focused youth arts initiatives. Read more.
Linda Varghese Joseph
2000, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Creative Director, Corgan MediaLab, Corgan Associates, Inc., Dallas
Linda Varghese Joseph works as a creative director for Corgan's MediaLab, where she conceptualizes and directs a diverse range of projects, including renderings, motion graphics, videos, animations, and immersive experiences such as VR and AR. Previously, she spent over 15 years in the digital design department at Fossil after graduation from UNT. Outside of work, Linda dedicates much of her free time to the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of AIGA. Read more.
Giselle Villeda, IIDA
2023, B.F.A., Interior Design
Interior Designer, GBD Architects, Portland, Oregon
A first-generation college graduate from an immigrant family, Giselle Villeda has built a design career shaped by perseverance and a passion for creating meaningful, inclusive spaces. Specializing in user-centered commercial interiors, her work emphasizes sustainability, advocacy, and mentorship. With experience spanning collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and contributing to projects from proposals to construction documents, Villeda is dedicated to designing environments that inspire and connect. Committed to mentorship, she aims to support future designers while honoring their roots and fostering sustainable, impactful design. Read more.
Simon Walker
1999, B.F.A., Communication Design: Graphic Design
Freelance designer and custom-letterer working, Chicago, Illinois
Congratulations to Simon Walker who was voted to the Creative Boom's Hotlist 2025 that names the most popular graphic designers by his peers! Walker, a native of Bournemouth, England, divides his work between creating fonts for his website, BeastsOfEngland.co, and creating custom-lettering pieces for individual clients, which you can find at SimonLetters.com.
Save the Date for CVAD Celebrates!
Please join us for CVAD Celebrates on March 29, 2025 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.!
The College of Visual Arts and Design faculty and staff invite you to a special open house and celebration of our college. With programs in visual arts, design, art history, art education, and interdisciplinary art and design studies, CVAD has grown to more than 2,600 students. For this annual showcase event, we welcome our friends, alumni, donors, neighbors, students, educators, family, and art aficionados everywhere to visit with faculty, staff, and students in our beautiful building. Read more.
Faculty Highlights
Dornith Doherty, UNT Distinguished Research Professor, Studio Art: Photography, recipient of the 2025 Insight Award from the Society for Photographic Education
Alicia Eggert, associate professor, Studio Art: Sculpture, exhibits "OURs," a neon sign, at the "Designing Motherhood" exhibition at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Lari Gibbons, professor, Studio Art: Printmaking and artist-in-residence at Mokuhanga Innovation Lab in Echizen, Fukui, Japan, Oct. 15–Nov. 30, 2024, exhibits at the International Woodblock Printing exhibition Dec. 5–Jan. 20, 2025, Echizen Washi Village Udatsu Craft Museum. This opportunity was made possible by a CVAD Flagship Grant. Gibbons also was recently appointed as an executive board member for Mid America Print Council for two years.
Michael R. Gibson, professor, Interaction Design, Cassini Nazir, assistant professor, User-Experience Design, UNT Research and Innovation News artice "UNT students, alumni develop online tool to educate rural Texans about diabetes,"
Letitia Huckaby, assistant professor, Studio Art, and 2010 M.F.A. alumna in Studio Art: Photography, exhibition “Diaries of Home,” Nov. 17, 2024–Feb. 2, 2025; Lecture: Dec. 13, 6 p.m., Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Beth Link, assistant professor, Art Education, co-author of "Learning to Listen to the Pit in Our Stomachs: A Call for Vulnerability in Art Education," Taylor & Francis Online, Art Education, Volume 77, 2024 - Issue 6
Christopher Meerdo, assistant professor, Studio Art: New Media Art & Photography, was consulted by CBS TV Channel 11 in Dallas for his artificial intelligence expertise: "Deepfakes of Elon Musk are contributing to billions of dollars in fraud losses in the U.S."
Barbara Trippeer, assistant professor of Fashion Design and 2015 M.F.A. alumna in Applied Design Research, authored the case study "The Circular Design Challenge: A STEAD-Based Cooperative Learning Project in Sustainable Design Education," which has been accepted as a chapter in the upcoming Bloomsbury textbook "Teaching Fashion Sustainably." Edited by Holly Kent with a foreword by sustainable fashion pioneers Lynda Grose and Kate Fletcher, the book is set to be published in October 2026.
Jennifer Way, professor, Art History, publishes a new chapter in "Modernism, Art, Therapy" and appointed to CAA Services to Art Historians of Visual Arts Committee.
Creative U Precollegiate Summer 2025 Program
Creative U Returns to Inspire Young Artists, Designers and Scholars
In June 2023, CVAD launched its first-ever summer arts program, Creative U. This groundbreaking
program, a collaboration between the CVAD Foundations program and the Onstead Institute
for Education in the Visual Arts and Design, was a resounding success. Now, we’re
thrilled to announce that planning is underway for the 2025 session, and we invite
you to spread the word to teens or parents who could benefit from this incredible
opportunity!
Creative U offers rising high school sophomores through 2025 graduates a unique precollegiate
art experience. Students will participate in activities designed by CVAD faculty,
staff, and graduate students that foster the development of their creative skills
and vision through a variety of art and design projects and processes. We’re especially
happy to offer these sessions with the help of a generous donor, whose support helps
defray much of the cost to pay for faculty and supplies.
Students can choose from week-long sessions focused on their specific areas of interest.
Fashion Design | Graphic Design | Metalsmithing and Jewelry
Printmaking | Photography
All sessions occur in CVAD’s state-of-the-art, 238,000-square-foot facility, equipped
with cutting-edge resources and technology. It’s the perfect environment to inspire
young minds and nurture their artistic potential. No prior artmaking experience is required — students from all backgrounds are encouraged
to attend and explore their creativity.
Encourage the budding artist or designer in your life to join this unique and transformative
experience. Visit the Creative U web page to learn more and share this information with friends, family, and your community.
Together, we can help young creators discover their potential and ignite their passion
for art and design!
Summer Experience Week 1: June 2-6
Morning Sessions: 9–11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Sessions: 1–3:30 p.m.
Summer Experience Week 2: June 9–13
Morning Sessions: 9–11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Sessions: 1–3:30 p.m.
Each Session will have a minimum of eight participants.
UNT College of Visual Art and Design | Map to the UNT CVAD Art Building
1201 W. Mulberry St., Denton, TX 76201 | Parking passes are provided.
In Memoriam
Renowned Art Educator and Scholar Bill McCarter Leaves Lasting Legacy at UNT CVAD
Robert William "Bill" McCarter Jr., a beloved educator, author and influential art scholar, died on Sept. 20, 2024. Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, Bill attended public schools in Gastonia before pursuing his passion for art at the University of Georgia, where he earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts. Bill continued his education at Penn State University, earning a doctorate in Art Education. Bill continued his education at Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, earning a Doctorate in Art Education. Read more.
Edward Hoyenski: A Legacy at the Texas Fashion Collection
Edward Thomas Hoyenski, 56, a UNT alumnus, beloved steward of cultural artifacts,
librarian, historian and curator-cataloger at the Texas Fashion Collection, died on
Oct. 25, 2024, in Denton, Texas. Born on Oct. 21, 1968, Edward's passion for history
and storytelling shaped a distinguished career in the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
From 2011 to 2016, Edward helped to transform the Texas Fashion Collection. As the
collection curator and cataloger, he modernized internal practices, launched a digitization
project, managed the relocation of more than 15,000 artifacts, and inspired volunteers
with his signature enthusiasm. His innovative leadership helped to make the collection
more accessible and influential. Read more.
The Spirit of Giving
This holiday season, please consider contributing to the UNT College of Visual Arts
and Design. Thanks to generous donor support, CVAD awarded more than $384,000 in scholarships
and fellowships this year.
Make an impact! Donate art supplies, books, or a monetary gift today to inspire the next generation of creatives. Please visit the CVAD Giving web page to support other areas of need. Every contribution, large or small, helps provide resources and support to creative students in need.
If you would like to donate supplies or books, Senior Associate Dean Eric Ligon would love to connect with you. Contact him at Eric.Ligon@unt.edu or 940-565-4001.
For corporate gifts, scholarship or end-of-year donations, please contact Felicia Lewis, senior director for CVAD development, at Felicia.Lewis@unt.edu or 314-295-3160.
Thank you for helping us foster creativity, innovation and a spirit of giving!
On the Calendar
CVAD Upcoming Events | UNT Alumni Calendar | UNT Events Calendar | Gallery Exhibitions
Through Feb. 1, 2025: "Labor of Luxury: Embroidery from India to the World," CVAD Gallery, Art Building, Room 160
Through Feb. 2: Letitia Huckaby, CVAD Faculty, exhibition "Diaries of Home," Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Through March 15, 2025: Alicia Eggert, associate professor, Studio Art: Sculpture, exhibits "OURs," a neon sign, at the "Designing Motherhood" exhibition at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Dec. 23–27, 2024 and Dec. 30, 2024–Jan. 1, 2025: Winter Break & New Year's Day Holiday, campus closed
Jan. 13: Classes Begin
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr Day, campus closed
Jan. 25, 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Guided tour of the "Labor of Luxury" exhibition, CVAD Gallery; walk-ins welcome
Feb. 4–March 1: “The 64th Annual Paul Voertman Juried Student Exhibition”
Feb. 6, 5–7 p.m.: Reception & Awards for “The 64th Annual Paul Voertman Juried Student Exhibition”
March 10–16: Spring Break
March 18–May 9: Exhibition “An Irrational Fancy” and “An Exhibition by Eileen Maxson,” CVAD Gallery
March 29, 9:30–3 p.m.: CVAD Celebrates!
June 2–6: Creative U Precollegiate Summer Experience Week 1
June 9–13: Creative U Precollegiate Summer Experience Week 2
Tag us using @UNTCVAD so we can add your post to our social media stories! Be sure to follow us at #UNTCVAD.
This gif is courtesy of alumna Megan Lockhart, Class of 2010
CVAD News and Views
A publication of the CVAD Marketing Office, Administrative Affairs, Office of the
Dean
Questions, comments or suggestions? Contact us.
E: cvad.Information@unt.edu | P: 940-369-5249
Mailing address: 1155 Union Circle #305100, Denton, TX 76201
Physical address: 1201 W. Mulberry St., UNT Art Building, Room 101, Denton, TX 76203-5017