Dr. Lori Santos, an Associate Professor of Art Education at Â鶹´«Ă˝â€™s School of Art, Design, and Creative Industries, is shaping the future of art educators through her signature teaching philosophy: the "Three Cs"—Creativity, Culture, and Community. Her dedication has earned her a strong respected reputation at Â鶹´«Ă˝. Recently the Western Division of the National Art Education Association, represented by 16 states, honored Dr. Santos as the Western Region Higher Art Educator for 2025. Noted on the NAEA website, “These awards honor one outstanding NAEA member from each of the seven divisions within each of the four regions. This award recognizes exemplary service and achievement of regional significance within each division.”
Dr. Santos’ teaching philosophy extends beyond the classroom, preparing future educators to foster creativity and cultural awareness in their own students. Many of her graduates go on to teach in Wichita’s USD 259 school district and beyond. “They've been very successful, and I think one of the reasons why is this emphasis on creativity, culture, and community” Dr. Santos said. “Our students are going into programs as artists who are also teachers who truly care about youth. It’s important in art education to advocate for and recognize that our field is uniquely positioned to bring people together and through art we can build positive relationships and empower positive change.”
Dr. Santos’ impact extends far beyond Wichita. She has led two student trips to Peru in partnership with the InstituciĂłn Educativa JosĂ© MarĂa Arguedas, an elementary school close to Lima, Peru. These study-abroad experiences provided students with a firsthand understanding of how art education fosters cultural exchange and connection.
“It was a profound experience for the students,” she said. “They realized that despite coming from different cultures and places, they could still connect, learn from one another, and teach and learn through making art.”
Closer to home, Dr. Santos fosters making a tangible impact through community partnerships with organizations such as Harvester Arts, Storytime Village, and the Wichita Public Library. Under her guidance, students engage in service-learning projects, such as creating a community mural for the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, or painting Little Free Libraries located throughout Wichita.
Dr. Santos' selection for the Regional Art Educator Award was based on strong recommendations from peers who admire her leadership, innovation, and commitment to art education. “Dr. Santos has provided leadership in higher art education for nearly 20 years. Her research in Indigenous cultures, community building, and eco-based art education has remained a constant throughout her teaching and research,” said Dr. Liz Langdon, Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Kansas, in her recommendation letter. “We are fortunate to have Lori leading the art education program at Wichita State since 2017. Her contributions at both the state and national levels are well recognized through this award.”
In addition to the Western Regional award, Dr. Santos has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Utah Art Educator Association Higher Education Award (2012-2013), the United States Society for Education through Art Education Community Service Award (2028), the Kansas Art Education Higher Educator of the Year Award (2023), and Mickey & Pete Armstrong Faculty Excellence in Creative/Scholarly Activity, Â鶹´«Ă˝ (2023).
Her colleagues at Â鶹´«Ă˝ also highlight her unwavering dedication. “Dr. Santos has shown an unwavering commitment to the Â鶹´«Ă˝ Art Education program, continually striving to enhance its quality and impact,” said Tina Murano, Assistant Educator of Art Education at Â鶹´«Ă˝. “Through her innovative approaches and tireless work, she has built strong connections with the community, fostered meaningful collaborations, and inspired students to excel.” The art education program has grown immensely under her leadership.
For Dr. Santos, teaching art is not just about techniques and theories—it’s about fostering love. “I always tell my students that to be an art educator, the most important thing you need is love,” she said. “Love of creativity, love of culture, love of community. It’s not just about loving your subject, but also about truly caring for and connecting with the people you work with. Love is not just a feeling—it’s action. I show my students the importance and value of being a practicing creative artist and lifelong learner through embodying my philosophy of valuing and celebrating cultural difference and community.”
Dr. Santos’s philosophy is exemplified by her own call to action within her community service and scholarship. She continues to connect with K-12 schools through providing eco-Indigenous art workshops. For example, most recently, Dr. Santos was an invited keynote speaker for the Lebanon High School’s Missouri chapter of the National Art Honor Society. Additionally, during her sabbatical Spring of 2024 she spent a week teaching middle school students at the Clayton School District in St. Louis, Missouri, and she presented eco-printing workshops with several elementary and middle school students throughout Kansas. Abby B. of Clayton Schools, states “Dr. Santos is an extraordinary mentor to her students and colleagues alike. Her knowledge spans Indigenous pedagogy, environmental sustainability, art education, and more, yet she always approaches her work with humility and a desire to learn from others. She doesn’t merely teach; she embodies her principles and is deeply committed to making a positive impact by working in community with others.”
Dr. Santos’s scholarship honors First Nation voices and brings an Indigenous perspective to art education pedagogy. She was awarded a National Art Education Foundation grant for the project “Hearing from the Silenced: Applying Native American Artist Voices for Anti-racist/Culturally Competent Curriculum and Student Identity Development” and a collaborative interdisciplinary grant through Â鶹´«Ă˝ “Sowing and Growing through Mindfulness with Nature: Implications for an Indigenous Informed Creative Arts Praxis.”
With her relentless passion and dedication, Dr. Santos continues to lead by example, shaping the next generation of educators and demonstrating that art has the power to build bridges, strengthen communities, and inspire change that celebrates our differences and unites us through our humanity.
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