Class of 2003
Courtney Lee Weida’s mother was a painter, so she grew up around art. In high school, she says, “I had amazing art teachers. Both they and my mother encouraged me to try out new ideas and styles of art.” Courtney researched many art school programs. Her mother recognized that Courtney wanted to study both art and teaching and since she was an NU Alumna, she encouraged her to apply here.
NU Admissions helped Courtney with her decision-making. They pointed out that Northeastern provides extensive experiential learning opportunities. Since she had been involved in community projects, volunteer work, and theater during high school, having the chance to learn outside the classroom played an important part in her selection process.
At Northeastern, Courtney double-majored in Art and English in order to understand better the connections between aesthetics and visual imagery, and visual and written expression. Her Art History professors, notably Mardges Bacon, significantly contributued to the development of her critical faculties. At the same time, studio art professor Sophia Ainslie always challenged Courtney with probing questions and encouragement. “Sophia always said that if there is something you cannot do as an artist, that is the thing you must do,” she remembers. And Ann Galligan was instrumental in providing guidance and structure while Courtney prepared her résumé and portfolio. To this day, Courtney touches base with her NU professors for recommendations and advice.
She notes that her Co-op experiences helped her career significantly, especially her stint teaching art at a Catholic school in Jamaica Plain (after graduation, this co-op position became her first job). Co-op and other experiential easy transition from academic life to the job market.
She pursued her graduate work in the Art Education area at Harvard University and Columbia University Teachers College, and subsequently taught courses about art, gender, and culture at SUNY Empire State. Courtney’s academic passion runs the gamut from Art to Art History, English Literature, African American Art, Gender Studies, Women Studies, and, perhaps most importantly, Art Education–a field that allows her to embrace and share all her diverse interests. “Sometimes,” she notes, “students wonder why a non-Art major needs to take Art courses. In these situations, I love demonstrating the connections between Art and other academic disciplines, where we can explore the both the elegance of visual object per se, and the clarity and complexity of artistic communication.”
Today, Courtney teaches at Adelphi University. Her classes include Master Seminar in Art Education, Historical Foundation of Art Education, and Introduction to Ceramics. At the same time, she is preparing a presentation for a conference on Gender and the Aesthetics of Popular Dolls (Barbie, Bratz, and action figures).
Courtney’s graduation form Northeastern was a significant milestone for her and and a point of pride for her mother, since NU is now a family tradition. Now, with a doctoral degree and a faculty position, it might seem that Courtney reached her goals. She would disagree. “Goals exist to be revised and renewed–continually, daily,” she says.
Courtney’s advice to current and incoming students is simple: “Take the difficult but interesting classes! Take advantage of outside opportunities: visiting the MFA, the ICA and local galleries is a must. Most of all, participate. Community projects, clubs–being part of a community is a big part of becoming an artist.”