We are committed to being an inclusive community that better reflects the students and communities we serve. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) will play a key role in our organization. Our purpose is to ensure that the AEAI organization is inclusive and open to all. Art educators can find the resources and support they need to practice equity, diversity, and inclusion in their practice.

These are our ED&I Goals for 2022-2023

1

Achieve a more diverse, equitable and inclusive AEAI

2

Provide equitable and inclusive access to membership

3

Provide equitable and inclusive access to AEAI leadership positions

4

Provide pedagogy that values equity, diversity and inclusion

5

Provide ED&I resources and support for our AEAI membership
ED&I
Professional
Development
coming soon

ED&I LIAISONS

​Kathy Danko-McGhee

Dr. Kathy Danko-McGhee is an Early Childhood Art Education Consultant for First Encounters where she works with museums as well as community agencies that meet the needs of economically challenged families.
As an author, her books include The Aesthetic Preferences of Young Children (2000) and The Impact of Early Art Experiences on Literacy Development (2007). Her upcoming book, Viewing Art With Babies, will be published by Taylor & Francis at the end of 2022. Kathy’s research has been published in international and national refereed journals and she has presented papers at conferences worldwide. In 2011, she hosted the International Art in Early Childhood Conference at the University of Toledo’s Center for the Visual Arts and the Toledo Museum of Art.
Danko-McGhee is currently serving in editorial roles for Art Education, and has served as an editor for Early Childhood Education and the International Art in Early Childhood Research Journal. In 2018-2019, she was a member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Task Force for the National Art Education Association.
Dr. Danko-McGhee earned her doctorate from Ohio State University.

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Jasmine Begeske

Jasmine Begeske is an artist, researcher, and teacher educator. Currently, she is a clinical instructor in special education at Purdue University. Her research focuses on access and inclusion to arts education for vulnerable populations. Her artistic practice centers on printmaking and participatory arts projects. She has 14 years of experience preparing future teachers and formerly served as a K-12 Special Education and Visual Arts teacher.

ED & I COMMITTEE

Ashley Shea
​Ashley Shea is an elementary art teacher, serving students kindergarten through fourth grade, within the MSD Warren Township corporation. She has been a member of the AEAI community for 15 years, even serving on the board as a student representative during her college career at the Indiana University Herron of Art at IUPUI. Her passion for teaching students in the visual arts for the past 14 years, has led her to guide others as the District Art Coordinator for Elementary Art teachers within her school corporation.  Equitable practice is a core passion that drives Ashley's instruction, she is excited to join the AEAI Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee. 
Laura Schroeder
​My roles in schools have included support staff for English Language Learners and high school studio art and art history instructor. I enjoy celebrating great educators as Awards Chair on the AEAI board, and I’m very excited to serve on the ED & I Committee. Among my interests are learning about ways to make art education more accessible by removing economic, language, and physical barriers, and expanding the canon in both studio art and art history classes. I’m eager to learn more about the ED & I work teachers across the state and country are doing and look forward to helping us share resources, ideas, and experiences!
Laurel Cambell
​I have taught in higher education since 1996 at both the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University Fort Wayne. I also taught two years of Pre-1 and two years of high school while writing my dissertation. My three degrees are from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where I lived for 40 years and raised a family consisting of a husband and two sons. I moved to Fort Wayne in 2010 to take a position as Director of Art Education at PFW. 
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