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Faculty

Dr. Cynthia Vascak

Dr. Cynthia Vascak

Department Chair, Professor of Art Education
Graduate Program Coordinator for Art Education


Contact phone number: (603) 535-3001
e-mail: cynthiav@plymouth.edu

Administrative contact: Deborah Stalnaker
Administrative contact phone number: (603) 535-2933
Administrative contact email: dlstalnaker@plymouth.edu

Profile
Professor of Art Education Cynthia Vascak is chair of the Art Department, coordinator of the undergraduate and graduate art education programs, and teaches integrated arts, curriculum and instruction, art education and studio art at Plymouth State University. Her primary artistic media are drawing, egg tempera and printmaking; her art work is represented by Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts in Dennis, Mass.

Dr. Vascak is co-creator of the award-winning Integrated Instructional Model (IIM), a curriculum model that focuses on arts integration, community building and critical thinking. She also directs the IIM Arts in Action research project, which was awarded a $500,000 grant by the national Department of Education. She oversees this project at several local schools, including Ashland, Inter-Lakes and Gilford elementary schools.

As a professional consultant, Dr. Vascak has worked with the N.H. Department of Education, the Pemi Youth Center, VSA Arts New Hampshire, Plymouth Regional High School, Becket School, Gilford Elementary School and Friends of the Arts, as well as numerous individual schools, school districts, administrators and educators. Prior to her work at PSU, she was a K–12 art teacher.
Degrees and Education
  • Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, University of New Hampshire
  • M.F.A. in art education, Boston University
  • B.A. in literature and studio art, Pan American University
Research Interests

Implications of IIM; using multi-modal symbol systems to promote cognitive development, self-esteem and writing skills in elementary school children; the role of visual arts in emotional literacy; the creation of interdisciplinary curricula in elementary schools; the writing process; changes in pedagogical practice; emancipatory and feminist theory; the role of arts integration in differentiated instruction; icon painting of the Byzantine and Novgorodian traditions.
Recent Publications
  • Integrated Instructional Model Instructional Resources, 2005
  • Integrated Instructional Model Community Development, 2005
  • Integrated Instructional Model Child Centered Portfolio Resource, 2004
  • PSU Art Education Instructional Planning Guide and Resource, 1998
Recent Presentations
  • “Integrated Instructional Model.” N.H. Department of Education Integrated Learning Project Conference, 2004-2005
  • “African Textiles Across the Curriculum.” PSU Integrated Arts Conference, 2005
  • “Integrated Instructional Model.” N.H. Department of Education Governor’s Task Force on Real World Learning, 2004
  • “Designing Spiral Curriculum across Elementary, Middle School, and High School Arts Programs.” New Hampshire Art Education Association Arts Alive Conference, 2004
  • “Doing Good Work with Children: Psychology and Education Issues in New Hampshire.” New England College, 2004
Recent Exhibitions
  • Winstanley-Roark Featured Artist: Contemporary Icon Art, 2005
  • Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts Gallery: Group Show, 2004
  • Plymouth State University Faculty Exhibit, 2004
  • Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts Gallery: Group Show, 2003
  • Plymouth State University Faculty Exhibition, 2003
  • Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts Gallery: Works by Lorretta Cuda and Cynthia Vascak, 2002
Recent Academic Distinctions
  • Who’s Who in America’s Teachers, 2000, 2003-2005
  • Governor’s Art Awards for Art Education (IIM nomination)
  • Citation for Excellence from the Division of Graduate Studies in Education, 2002
  • N.H. Department of Education Best Promising Practice Award, IIM, 2000
  • Phi Lambda Theta Honors Association
  • Phi Delta Kappa
Associations, Boards and Committees
  • National Art Education Association
  • New Hampshire Art Education Association
  • International Society for Education through Art
  • Association for Curriculum and Supervision Development
  • Cape Cod Printmakers Association
  • AVA Gallery
  • Monotype Guild of New England
  • Women’s Caucus for Art
  • Phi Lambda Theta
  • Phi Delta Kappa
  • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
  • International Reading Association
  • Board of Directors, VSA Arts of New Hampshire
  • Board of Directors, Roots Cooperative Gallery






Plymouth State University, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1595. Main Switchboard: (603) 535-5000.
A member of the University System of New Hampshire. ©2005-2008. All rights reserved.
This page was last revised: 1/3/2008