R. Dean Carpenter Turner, Ed.D.

Dean Turner -  Associate Professor, Art & Architectural History

Be willing to see varied sides and approaches to art and life in general. Dean Turner , Faculty Coordinator , The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston
What would you say is the defining moment in your life when you knew you were destined to become a creative professional?

I felt a defining moment in my life where I knew I was destined to become a creative professional when I began working as a faculty member at The Art Institute of Atlanta in 2000.

How do you weave your professional background into the classroom experience to provide an industry veteran's sense of the realities / challenges / opportunities of the profession?

I include relevant materials and my professional background daily into the classroom experience. I discuss my experiences and show what I have accomplished in the art historical profession within my course lectures.

Is there a class assignment that exemplifies your approach to teaching and mentoring? Similarly, how does your approach inspire each student to push themselves beyond their own perceived limits?

The one assignment that exemplifies my approach is the students' final project, which allows them a creative freedom to create something that has a connection and correlation back to art history and what they have learned in the class and through research.

What role does collaboration contribute to students' success, especially when students from other programs contribute to the same project?

Collaboration is crucial to assisting students in seeing others perspectives, which is what the discussion with art history is all about.

In your opinion, what is the single most important thing you impart to your students to help them succeed in your class and in the real world? Alternatively, what is the most critical advice you would offer any student as he / she embarks on a creative career?

Be willing to see varied sides and approaches to art and life in general.