Art Education Journey: Christopher Strickland’s Path of Purpose and Creativity

Christopher Strickland sees teaching as a calling. His passion began in childhood, when one art teacher guided him from kindergarten through eighth grade. She showed him how creativity, history and compassion could shape a young artist.
Her influence inspired him to study art and art education. He later spent 16 years teaching in New Hampshire. During that time, he explored questions about purpose, identity and the deeper role of the arts in learning. These reflections led him to pursue a master’s degree in arts integration and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Finding Purpose at UNK

After teaching and adjunct work on the East Coast, Strickland expanded his search for new opportunities. That decision eventually brought him to Nebraska. He first worked at Hastings College, then joined the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2022.
At UNK, he leads the fully online master’s program in art education. The program supports teachers from both rural and urban communities. Many students say it gives them the community they lacked in their local schools. Strickland values these connections and sees his learners as fellow educators.
He believes art can transform and heal. He also sees it as a force for good that strengthens communities. This belief guides his teaching and his leadership roles at UNK.

A Leader Recognized for Excellence

Strickland’s work has earned statewide recognition. The Nebraska Art Teachers Association recently named him the 2025 Outstanding Art Educator of the Year and Higher Education Art Educator of the Year. Colleagues praise his innovation, empathy and dedication to students.
Strickland also continues to create abstract watercolor art. His pieces appear in juried exhibitions across the country and support his ongoing creative research.
For him, the impact on students matters most. “Work is love made visible,” he says. “Teaching proves that truth every day.”