Former Department Head of 28 years retires After serving effectively for 28 years as chairman of the Art Department , Elizabeth Brewer Mason retired from her administrative position on August 21 , 1978. She continued to teach full -time , teaching courses in art appreciation, art history and art education. Mrs. Mason gUided the art program from a one-teacher department with only makeshift facilities to a six-man department housed in the Mildred Taylor Ste vens Memorial Art Center. In addition to providing service courses for several departments and the general education program, she built a strong undergraduate program in art with the number of majors increasing to approximately 100 with 20 receiving degrees last year . "We have made a conscious effort to expose students to various art media and to prepare them for effective teaching," Mason said. "We teach students to observe and Above: MASON enjoys the extra time retirement offers. to appreciate things of beauty - both those created by God and those created by man . We attempt to provide students with a solid basic academic foundation in art. Then we encourage our graduates to go to graduate 'school." After receiving the M.A. degree in art from George Peabody College , Mrs. Mason did special study at the Memphis Academy of Art, Delmar College , Universidad de Guadalajara, and Arizona State Unviersity. She participated in the two International Studies programs of Harding and taught one semester in the Pepperdine University program at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Making several trips to Europe to visit the great art galleries there , she has made hundreds of color slides which contribute much to the classes she now teaches. ([l~®cd1®[[lj)fi~~~ briefs and profiles It is interesting that the people who teach are just as involved in learning as their students. In the past year , 17 members of Harding's faculty became students themselves as they pursued higher degrees. In 1978-79, 63 faculty members had earned their doctorates, 77 held a Master's degree or ' higher (not doctorates) , and eight held only the bacc;,h'!Ureate degree. The 148 faculty members were aware of the need to increase their knowledge and awareness of the surrounding world 1he following are academic "briefs" - summaries of the activities of individuals in the various departments. There are also "profiles" on a few who need special recognition in 1979: three Distinguished Teachers, two department chairmen who this year retired from their positions, and one who was successful in political pursuits. Pompeii Art Exhibit viewed on Dallas Trip Don D. Robinson became chairman of the Art Department at the beginning of the fall semester upon the retirement of Elizabeth Mason , who had served as chairman for 28 years and had built an outstanding undergraduate art program. New to the department was John E. Keller. Trips to Dallas to view Pompeii Art Work, to the Memphis Art Museum and to the Little Rock Arts Center enriched the year for art majors. Exhibits by senior majors and guest artists in the Stevens Gallery enhanced the cultural life of the campus. Of special interest was the photography exhibit of Petit Jean photographers Doug Hudson, Doug Fonville and Dave Hogan. The department had a booth in the National Crafts Show in Little Rock and presented a crafts show on campus in the spring. The Art Guild float trip, the Christmas party and other social events developed camaraderie within the department. ~ ________ ~rt ______________ ~ Faye Doran, EdD Associate Professor Act Stan Green, 8SE Instructor Act John Keller, BA A~sO(i (] te Instructor Act Elbabeth Mason, MA Professor Ae> Paul Pitt. MA Assistant Professor Act Don Robinson, AM DeportmenT Chairman Associate Professor An Art ~ 183
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