The Art Institute of Tucson believes in learner-centered instruction that is measured by each student's success. Our faculty, many of whom are working professionals, achieve this by sharing their professional knowledge in the classroom.
Faculty strive to provide value and service for each student's investment by helping students to strengthen their skills and cultivate their creative talent through curricula that is carefully designed to prepare graduates to seek entry-level positions in their chosen fields.
Instructional methods at The Art Institute of Tucson include lecture, demonstrations, labs, one-on-one tutorials, and periodic examinations. Except for internships, field trips, online courses and occasional independent studies, all instruction is conducted in a classroom or laboratory settings.
Faculty arrange study trips to local cultural and commercial sites as an integral part of each student's training. These trips, along with scheduled out-of-town seminars and visits, offer valuable exposure to places and events relating to the student's field of study.
The costs related to optional study trips are not included in regular tuition or fees.
Elizabeth Heuisler, Academic Department Director, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing
Elizabeth Heuisler's interest in fashion began at a young age - by the time she was high school, she had begun sewing costumes for school plays and developing garments for her friends and family. Upon her graduation from F.I.T., Elizabeth worked as an assistant designer and pattern maker with Maidenform. When she felt ready to strike out on her own, Elizabeth accepted an opportunity to freelance as pattern maker for several contractors in New York City, and concurrently enrolled at Hofstra University while raising a family. In 1981, Elizabeth and her family relocated to Tucson, where she continued to freelance along with teaching pattern making and fashion illustration at Pima Community College. At that time, Elizabeth was offered a design position for a renaissance clothing catalog, a unique opportunity through which she learned a great deal about period clothing.
In 2003, Elizabeth was approached by a local private college to develop the curriculum for an A.A.S. degree program in fashion design. She served as the Department Chair at Tucson Design College, until the school was acquired by EDMC and became The Art Institute of Tucson. As the Academic Department Director for Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing at The Art Institute of Tucson, Elizabeth directed the first annual “all school” fashion show. Titled “Sense of Style,” the fashion show was staged at the Tucson Museum of Art in April of 2010, and was attended by over 400 people from the Tucson community.
Elizabeth holds an A.A.S. in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a B.A. in Fine Arts from Hofstra University. She is currently pursuing a M.A. in Education at Argosy University.
Nanalee Raphael, Instructor, Fashion Design
M.A., Syracuse University; B.S. Syracuse University.
Paula Taylor, Instructor, Fashion Marketing
M.S., Lesley University; B.A., The University of Arizona.
Jang-Huan "Arthur" Tsai, Instructor, Fashion Marketing
Arthur Tsai has been involved in the retail and fashion industries for over a decade. A native of Taiwan, Arthur brings an international perspective to the Ai Tucson campus. He began his merchandising career as the floor manager for Eslite Department Store in Taipei, Taiwan, where he worked with some of the giants of fashion: Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Guess, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Rockport and Tommy Hilfiger. Upon moving to the United States 10 years ago, Arthur accepted a position as an Executive Team Leader with Target and has since become very familiar with retail in the United States.
Arthur has been teaching at The Art Institute of Tucson since 2006 and has taught a variety of courses in fashion, marketing and advertising; which include Global Marketing, Retail Buying, Marketing, Excel for Apparel Management, Consumer Behavior, E-commerce and Marketing Research. Arthur continues to be active in professional and community development. He serves on the Advisory Committee for the Apparel Merchandising Department at Pima Community College and is an active member of International Council of Shopping Centers, in addition to being an active participant of the annual Global Retailing Conference and MAGIC (Men’s Apparel Guild in California).
Arthur holds a B.S. in Business Management and a M.S. in Retailing and Consumer Sciences from the University of Arizona.