Dr. Lori Santos Named Western Region Higher Art Educator for 2025

Dr. Lori Santos, an Associate Professor of Art Education at Wichita State University’s
School of Art, Design, and Creative Industries, is shaping the future of art educators
through her signature teaching philosophy: the “Three Cs”—Creativity, Culture, and
Community. Her dedication has earned her a strong respected reputation at WSU. Recently
the Western Division of the National Art Education Association, represented by 16
states, honored Dr. Santos as the Western Region Higher Art Educator for 2025. Noted
on the NAEA website, “These awards honor one outstanding NAEA member from each of
the seven divisions within each of the four regions. This award recognizes exemplary
service and achievement of regional significance within each division.”

Dr. Santos’ teaching philosophy extends beyond the classroom, preparing future educators
to foster creativity and cultural awareness in their own students. Many of her graduates
go on to teach in Wichita’s USD 259 school district and beyond. “They’ve been very
successful, and I think one of the reasons why is this emphasis on creativity, culture,
and community” Dr. Santos said. “Our students are going into programs as artists who
are also teachers who truly care about youth. It’s important in art education to advocate
for and recognize that our field is uniquely positioned to bring people together and
through art we can build positive relationships and empower positive change.”

Dr. Santos’ impact extends far beyond Wichita. She has led two student trips to Peru
in partnership with the Institución Educativa José María Arguedas, an elementary school
close to Lima, Peru. These study-abroad experiences provided students with a firsthand
understanding of how art education fosters cultural exchange and connection.

“It was a profound experience for the students,” she said. “They realized that despite
coming from different cultures and places, they could still connect, learn from one
another, and teach and learn through making art.”

Closer to home, Dr. Santos fosters making a tangible impact through community partnerships
with organizations such as Harvester Arts, Storytime Village, and the Wichita Public
Library. Under her guidance, students engage in service-learning projects, such as creating
a community mural for the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, or painting Little
Free Libraries located throughout Wichita. 

Dr. Santos’ selection for the Regional Art Educator Award was based on strong recommendations
from peers who admire her leadership, innovation, and commitment to art education.
“Dr. Santos has provided leadership in higher art education for nearly 20 years. Her
research in Indigenous cultures, community building, and eco-based art education has
remained a constant throughout her teaching and research,” said Dr. Liz Langdon, Associate
Teaching Professor at the University of Kansas, in her recommendation letter. “We
are fortunate to have Lori leading the art education program at Wichita State since
2017. Her contributions at both the state and national levels are well recognized
through this award.”

In addition to the Western Regional award, Dr. Santos has received numerous accolades
throughout her career, including the Utah Art Educator Association Higher Education
Award (2012-2013), the United States Society for Education through Art Education Community
Service Award (2028), the Kansas Art Education Higher Educator of the Year Award (2023),
and Mickey & Pete Armstrong Faculty Excellence in Creative/Scholarly Activity, WSU
(2023).

Her colleagues at WSU also highlight her unwavering dedication. “Dr. Santos has shown
an unwavering commitment to the WSU Art Education program, continually striving to
enhance its quality and impact,” said Tina Murano, Assistant Educator of Art Education at WSU. “Through her innovative approaches and
tireless work, she has built strong connections with the community, fostered meaningful
collaborations, and inspired students to excel.” The art education program has grown
immensely under her leadership. 

For Dr. Santos, teaching art is not just about techniques and theories—it’s about
fostering love. “I always tell my students that to be an art educator, the most important
thing you need is love,” she said. “Love of creativity, love of culture, love of community.
It’s not just about loving your subject, but also about truly caring for and connecting
with the people you work with. Love is not just a feeling—it’s action. I show my students
the importance and value of being a practicing creative artist and lifelong learner
through embodying my philosophy of valuing and celebrating cultural difference and
community.”

Dr. Santos’s philosophy is exemplified by her own call to action within her community
service and scholarship. She continues to connect with K-12 schools through providing
eco-Indigenous art workshops. For example, most recently, Dr. Santos was an invited
keynote speaker for the Lebanon High School’s Missouri chapter of the National Art
Honor Society. Additionally, during her sabbatical Spring of 2024 she spent a week
teaching middle school students at the Clayton School District in St. Louis, Missouri,
and she presented eco-printing workshops with several elementary and middle school
students throughout Kansas. Abby B. of Clayton Schools, states “Dr. Santos is an extraordinary
mentor to her students and colleagues alike. Her knowledge spans Indigenous pedagogy,
environmental sustainability, art education, and more, yet she always approaches her
work with humility and a desire to learn from others. She doesn’t merely teach; she
embodies her principles and is deeply committed to making a positive impact by working
in community with others.” 

Dr. Santos’s scholarship honors First Nation voices and brings an Indigenous perspective
to art education pedagogy. She was awarded a National Art Education Foundation grant
for the project “Hearing from the Silenced: Applying Native American Artist Voices
for Anti-racist/Culturally Competent Curriculum and Student Identity Development”
and a collaborative interdisciplinary grant through Wichita State University “Sowing
and Growing through Mindfulness with Nature: Implications for an Indigenous Informed
Creative Arts Praxis.”

With her relentless passion and dedication, Dr. Santos continues to lead by example,
shaping the next generation of educators and demonstrating that art has the power
to build bridges, strengthen communities, and inspire change that celebrates our differences
and unites us through our humanity.

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