Biography/History

Activity in art education at UW-Milwaukee's predecessor institutions dates to the creation of the Art Students' League in 1894. In 1907, the League became the Wisconsin School of Art and moved its base of operations to a studio rented in the Wisconsin State Normal School building and in 1911, the Wisconsin School of Art was absorbed into the Wisconsin State Normal School and the name changed to School of Fine and Applied Arts of the State Normal School, making it an official department. Later, the name was changed to the School of Arts, then to Art Department, which in 1924 became the Division of Art Education, and finally, the Department of Art and Art Education. From 1956, the year of the creation of UWM, to 1962, the Department of Art reported to the School of Education. In 1962, the department became part of the newly created School of Fine Arts.

In 1999, the Department of Art changed its name to the Department of Visual Art to highlight its focus on "essentially ocular traditions and experiences." In 2009, the department changed its name again to the Department of Art and Design to better reflect all areas of concentration within the department.

Department of Art Chairs

1956-1959	Robert Schellin
1959-1962	George Goundie
1962-1963	Burton Potterveld
1963-1964	Helmut Summ
1964-1968	Howard C. Schroedter
1966	George Goundie, Acting
1968-1969	Laurence Rathsack
1969-1972	William H. Smith
1972-1975	Rolf Hickman
1975-1978	Howard C. Schroedter
1978-1980	Anthony Stoeveken
1980-1983	Howard C. Schroedter
1983-1985	William H. Smith
1985-1989	Leslie Loomis Vansen
1989-1991	Stephen Samerjan
1991-1994	James Peters
1994-1998	Richard Zauft
1998-1999	Lane Hall

Department of Visual Art Chairs

1999-2001	Lane Hall
2002-2004	Leslie Loomis Vansen
2004-2005	Pamela Schermer
2005-2007	Leslie Loomis Vansen
2007-2009	Lee Ann Garrison

Department of Art and Design Chairs

2009-2013	Lee Ann Garrison
2013-2015	Yevgenia Kaganovich
2015-	Kyoung Ae Cho