ABOUT DIANE SAMMET

Who am I? The informal answer
(in no particular order)

a laugher, observer, giver, reader, maker, writer, drawer, painter, thinker, hugger, feeler, walker, listener, winner, promoter, teacher, learner, watcher, changer, grower, creator, questioner, explainer, illustrator, survivor, protector, comforter, nuturer, doer, organizer. a lover of colors, textures and tones, messages and meanings, images and words, animals and children. a person who is usually open-minded, patient, kind and tender, positive and persistent, child-like, forgiving, courageous, focused, spiritual, an introvert, an extrovert, accepting, contemplative, a unique expression, an individual--me.

Who am I? The formal answer

FORMAL  EDUCATION 

Master of Fine Arts in Illustration 2009
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School, Hartford, CT
Thesis: What Small Dog Did (children's picture book)
             (connecting thoughts, feelings and actions)
Advisors: Doug Andersen and Murray Tinkelman 

Master of Library Service 1985
Columbia University, New York, NY
Thesis: Periodical Literature for the Working Artist Library
Advisor: Deidre Stam
Graduated with Honors

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration 1982
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Senior Project: Interior landscapes in watercolor
Advisor: Thomas Sgouros

CONTINUING  EDUCATION

The Art of Teaching 2008
The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Continuing Education Certificate in Children's Literature 2007
Institute of Children's Literature, West Redding, CT

Eight hours of Continuing Education in Teaching
Florida Assn. of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC) 2006

Whiz-Bang Teaching: Better Learning Through Effective Presenting
Randy Burke Hensley 2006

Situational Leadership II Ken Blanchard Companies 2006

AWARDS  and  SCHOLARSHIPS

American Association of University Women (AAUW) 2007
Career Development Grant

Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF) 2007
EDSF Director's Scholarship

American Advertising Federation,
People's Choice ADDY Award for Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival 2003

California Pizza Kitchen, national award winner 2001

National Endowment for the Arts, internship in art's management 1985

National Gallery of Art internship program 1984

PROFESSIONAL  ASSOCIATION  MEMBERSHIPS

Artists Who Teach
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators 

TEACHING  EXPERIENCE

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale 2005 - Current
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Classes taught: Advanced Digital Illustration, Design Basics, Specialty Illustration, Concept Development 

Hollywood Art and Cultural Center 1998
Hollywood, FL
Classes taught: Traditional Drawing and Painting

American Heritage 1995 - 1997
Plantation, FL
Classes taught: Basic Art, Advanced Two-dimensional Art, Advanced Three-dimensional Art

PROFESSIONAL  EXPERIENCE  &  CREATIVE  PROJECTS

Communications in Information Literacy, www.comminfolit.org
Team author for peer reviewed article "A Program for Introducing Information Literacy to Commercial Art and Design Students" January 2010

Illustration "Mice Skaters" published in American Style Magazine
September 2009

Prentice Hall Publishers, Indianapolis, IN 2007
Contracted syllabi writer.

Carus Publishers, Peterborough, NH 2007
Wrote "Circus to the Rescue" published May 2007 AppleSeeds magazine.

Unity Fort Lauderdale 2006
Designed and co-wrote Spiritual Investment Program booklet.

Wardell Publications 2004 - 2005
Art Director for Art Glass magazine.

Howard Alan Events 2003 - 2005
Designer of art festival advertisements placed in Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and others.

Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale 2004
Illustrator and designer of invitations and billboards.

Broward County Cultural Division 2003 - 2004
Designer for Arts in Education book.

Fort Lauderdale Film Festival 2002 - 2003
Illustrator and designer for badges, posters and advertisements.

InnerLight Art Works 1996 - 1998
Illustrator and designer for line of Christmas cards

EXHIBITIONS  &  COLLECTIONS  1994 - 2009
 
Silpe Gallery at the University of Hartford, MFA in Illustration graduating art exhibition

Robert Schafer, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Board of Trustees

William Kalaboke, past President, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Mark K. Wheeler gallery of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Hollywood Art and Cultural Center, Hollywood, FL

Broward Art Guild, Fort Lauderdale, FL

The Gallery on Main, Durango, CO

Gold Coast Watercolor Society, Davie, FL

The Labyrinth Project, Hollywood, FL

For Art's Sake Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
 
SCHOOL  and  COMMUNITY  SERVICE

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale: 2002 - present 
    Participant in "Square Art" scholarship fund art exhibit and sale.
    Committee Chair for 4th quarter/8th quarter Illustration Program Assessment
 
    Member of the Student Success Committee 
    Member of the Curriculum Committee 
    Co-presenter to EDMC Vice President of Academic Affairs, 
        "
Recommendations from Information Literacy Task Force"
    Leader of the Information Literacy Task Force 
    Presenter of Information Literacy Snapshot to Department Chairs 
    Co-creator and facilitator for five separate faculty development workshops: 
        Blogs & Wikis in Education, Library databases, Mind the Gap, and 
        Going Beyond Google parts 1 & 2
    Special guest presenter to AiFL Board of Trustees.

The Humane Society of Broward County: 2007 - Current
    Volunteer animal assisted therapy team (working with children and literacy) 

Unity of Fort Lauderdale: 2006
    Leader of the Unity Communications Task Force 
    Member of the Unity Board of Trustees

 

Specialties
Animals
Children
Publishing