Department of Art, Design & Letters
![Converse Art and Design](https://www.converse.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Converse-Art-and-Design-4.jpg)
The Department of Art, Design & Letters recognizes the dynamic relationship between the visual arts and the literary arts. Converse’s exemplary programs in Art Education, Art History, Art Therapy, Creative and Professional Writing, Interior Design, and Studio Art represent a unique range of opportunities for dedicated students in the professional and liberal arts fields.
Utilizing “Creativity that Works” as a model for our programs, the Department of Art, Design & Letters provides options for internships, research, and travel-study to ensure the highest quality experiential learning. Students learn from dedicated award-winning art, design, and creative writing educators, who are skilled professionals in their fields.
Converse University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Education (CIDA).
We value the artistic skills you have already developed and Converse offers several Visual Arts Scholarship Days for dedicated high school senior art students. After a personal interview and portfolio presentation, students may be considered for four-year awards of up to $2,000 per year.
Degrees & Programs
Explore our programs in art and design below; Converse University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Make your plans for a campus visit or request information about our programs. We’re eager to meet you!
Undergraduate Degrees
- Art History – BA, minor
- Art Education – BA
- Art Therapy – BA
- Creative and Professional Writing – BFA, major, minor
- Interior Design – BFA*
- Studio Art – BA, BFA, minor
*Our Interior Design program is accredited by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
Interdisciplinary Degrees
Certificates
MISSION
The Department of Art, Design & Letters provides our students with authentic visual, written, and intellectual experiences, which advance originality, cultivate scholarship, and establish professional skill development within a creative and collaborative community.
Departmental Goals
- To provide a comprehensive, sequential curriculum that encompasses all artistic disciplines and evolving directions within our various programs of study.
- To provide critical thinking and creative expression in all areas of study.
- To provide career advising and mentorship for students through pre-professional educational experiences outside of the standard classroom setting.
- To promote skill proficiency in the use of innovative equipment and techniques.
- To foster an understanding of the relationships between various visual and literary arts.
Department News
Meet Mable Ni ’24 – A Rising Star In Printmaking
Written by Amanda Mathis From her early days as a music enthusiast to her current status as a rising star in printmaking, Mable Ni’s journey is a testament to her …
See Where Our 2024 Graduates Are Headed!
Converse’s Class of 2024 has big plans ahead of them, from new careers and volunteering to grad school and international travel. See where some of our 2024 grads are headed! Kayla …
Converse University Focusing On The Future By Investing In Teachers
Written by Amanda Mathis On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Converse University, Wofford College, OneSpartanburg, and Spartanburg County School Districts Three and Seven announced their recent collaboration to invest in Spartanburg’s …
Converse Announces 2024 Emerging Young Artists Winners
Converse’s Department of Art, Design & Letters held its annual Emerging Young Artists Juried Exhibition. Accepted submissions were on exhibition in Milliken Art Gallery from March 11 through March 23, …
Department of Art, Design & Letters Faculty and Staff
Susanne Floyd Gunter
Associate Professor of Art Education, Chair of Art and Design Department
Andrew Blanchard
Associate Professor of Studio Art
Ross Brendle
Instructor of Art History
Mary Carlisle
Associate Professor of Art
Vivianne Lee Carey
Instructor of Art
Andrea Elliott
Instructor of Art and Design
Jerome Gomez
Assistant Professor of Interior Design
Ashley Lazevnick
Assistant Professor of Art History
Mike Massengale
Instructor of Art
Richard Mulkey
Associate Professor of English; Director of Creative Writing
Susan Tekulve
Associate Professor of English
Jena Thomas
Associate Professor of Art
Laura Zeisler
Asisstant Professor of Art Therapy
School of the Arts
In the moment of creation, each artist faces a question: “What will I make of this?”
Dean of the School of the Arts
Christopher Vaneman
864.596.9038
chris.vaneman@converse.edu
Blackman Music Hall 202/230