Our Threads of Leadership: Conversations in Art Education podcast invites you to join us in reflective conversations with art educators and creative leaders who are shaping the future of the field.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Graham, the National Art Education Association (NAEA) Pacific Region Vice President-Elect*, to explore a leadership journey grounded in community, curiosity, perspective, and the belief that art education serves “all the children of the world.” Mark reflects on his long involvement with NAEA, including conference presentations, the Research Commission, regional leadership, and the professional conversations that sustain art educators who may be working alone in their schools. He also shares how his experiences as an art department chair, district arts coordinator, higher education faculty member, AP Art and Design reader and leader, and internationally engaged art educator have shaped the way he thinks about advocacy, children’s artistic potential, and the need to broaden who is represented in classrooms, curriculum, and leadership. Throughout the conversation, Mark offers rich metaphors of gardens, lichens, weaving, and tapestry, reminding us that leadership is often relational, generative, symbiotic, and strengthened by the threads beside us.

Hosted by Dr. Abi Paytoe Gbayee and Dr. Yichien Cooper, this podcast is part of our collaborative research project Leadership in Threads: A Fiber and AI-Enhanced Exploration. Through intimate dialogue, the series stitches together stories of leadership journeys, personal values, and creative processes from elected art education leaders across NAEA.

Resources Mentioned:

• National Art Education Association (NAEA): ⁠arteducators.org⁠

• NAEA Research Commission: https://www.arteducators.org/community/committees/research-commission/

• NAEA Divisions and Regions: https://www.arteducators.org/community/divisions-and-regions/

• International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA): https://www.insea.org/

• College Board AP Art and Design Program: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/art-design-program

• Utah Art Education Association (UAEA): https://www.utaharteducation.org/

A special thanks goes out to Emilie Cooper for the episode art design and Ben Cooper for the into and outro music. Your contributions have elevated this work immensely.

This podcast was originally recorded November 11, 2025.

*Since the time of this recording Mark has become the sitting Pacific Region Vice President.