Shelly Maloney Receives National Art Education Award
Shelly Maloney has received the 2025 CSTAE Curriculum Award, presented annually by the Caucus of Social Theory in Art Education to recognize contributions that serve the global art education community.
Maloney is an art and pottery instructor at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount and a student in the Art Education MAT program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education. She received the award at the National Art Education Association convention in Chicago in March.
“I was thrilled when I learned my lesson plan had been accepted for publication in the CSTAE curriculum resources,” Maloney said. “Having it selected as the 2025 award winner is a huge honor and encourages me to continue pursuing teaching, curriculum writing and exploring all forms of art.”
Maloney developed and submitted an original lesson on glitch media arts for the CSTAE Curriculum competition. The lesson encourages students to use digital media — and glitch effects in particular — to explore social, cultural, environmental or political issues through art.
“The example artwork I created was inspired by artists Richard Mosse, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Maya Lin,” Maloney said. “While each takes a different approach to digital media, they all highlight the destructive impact humans can have on one another and on the environment.”
Maloney earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, with a minor in art, from East Carolina University. She said an experience teaching art at a Hobby Lobby summer camp inspired her to pursue a career in education. After earning her teaching certification, she taught for several years before enrolling in WCE’s MAT in Art Education program to further strengthen her skills.
“Watson offered the most comprehensive, flexible and affordable option for a working mother of four,” she said. “Since enrolling in spring 2025, the program has taken my passion for teaching to a whole other level. I think more deeply about how to engage students so they are not just learning about art, but experiencing their world and finding answers through it.”
Maloney was enrolled in professor Elizabeth Crawford’s EDN 520: Instructional Development course in spring 2025.
“Shelly has emerged as a leader in her program and her county,” Crawford said. “In March 2025, she designed and delivered an online professional development workshop for Nash County educators titled ‘Teaching the Whole Child.’ I was impressed by how she applied what she learned in her graduate program to support teachers across her district.”
Mara Pierce, coordinator of the Art Education MAT program, also highlighted Maloney’s growth and impact through her coursework.
“I had the opportunity to teach Shelly in last summer’s Arts-Based Research course,” Pierce said. “Shelly’s focus and outcomes were consistently impressive in their depth and growth. I witnessed her facing the challenges of the complex research method and arrive at a study that will undoubtedly contribute to her student's art and human development, as well as to the field. I look forward to seeing what she does next!”
Maloney said she loves teaching and often wakes up before her alarm, eager to see her students and help them navigate their worlds. She encourages others considering a career in education to look within and reflect on their purpose.
“If you are a lifelong learner with a desire to help others, teaching will be the best decision you'll ever make,” she said. “As a teacher, you are a role model, an advocate and a source of encouragement. It is an honor to help shape the future through the lives of students.”
Maloney hopes to one day teach at the college level, where she can share what she has learned and mentor future educators.
About CSTAE and the Curriculum Award
The Caucus of Social Theory in Art Education (CSTAE), an affiliate of the National Art Education Association (NAEA), promotes the use of social theory in art education to explore visual culture and support equitable teaching practices. Its annual Curriculum Award recognizes contributions to its digital resource portfolio.
About WCE’s Art Education Programs
The Watson College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in art who want to teach in public schools. One of the few programs of its kind in North Carolina, it also provides licensed art teachers with opportunities for classroom-based research to enhance their practice. Courses are offered online with in-person, hands-on field experiences to provide flexibility for working professionals.
UNCW also offers a combined bachelor’s-to-master’s program in art and art education, allowing students pursuing degrees in studio art, art history or digital art to earn a master’s in art education within five years.
New cohorts begin each semester. For more information, contact Dr. Pierce at peiercem@uncw.edu or visit the program websites.
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