Meet the Board

As a board member for 4 years I have the opportunity to help and support AEM on many levels. This year I am excited to announce I am moving to high school. I currently teach Sculpture and Media Arts White Bear Lake North Campus High and continue to enjoy advocating for art education both on a state and national level in my concluding role as NAEA Western Region Middle Level Representative in March 2022.

Jen lives in Rochester and teaches at Rochester Mayo High School.

Kris Holsen is a drama teacher at Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts in Brooklyn Park. She lives in South St. Paul, MN.

I am a retired art teacher after 49 years of teaching. I have taught primarily high school level art in both NY and MN. I have been involved in AEM since 1994 and am the Communications Chair and responsible for editing the Art Exchange.

Many years of dedicated service to the AEM leadership team. Current Art Educator in Stillwater School District.

Ellen has been the WISCONSIN ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S Membership Chair for the past years. She recently moved back to Minnesota to pursue Elementary Art Education at Mounds Park Academy. She was recently nominated for WAEA's 2021 Beginning Art Educator of the Year. We are very excited to have her help us connect to our members and build connections with other state organizations.

I am a mother of 4 and have been an elementary art educator for 14+ years and am currently a teacher at Rochester Public Schools. I am a Regional Art Teacher Leader through the Perpich, special area lead in my district, PBIS lead in my building and HIGHLY passionate about advocating for our young artists!

Laura Anton teaches art at the Forest Lake Area Learning Center in Forest Lake. She lives in Saint Paul.

I am now entering my 12th year teaching and 7th year in Minnesota. I teach Media Arts at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, MN. I'm plant obsessed. I love my two Boxer doggos, Ozzie & Ruby. I cannot get enough Real Housewives and I love a good pun.

Kassie Gibbons is a Secondary Art Educator in Alexandria, MN. She is an outstanding media and website designer and we are excited to see her skills with our professional development opportunities this year!

Brad is currently employed at Minnesota State University Moorhead as Program Coordinator and Professor of Art Education leading the largest program in a 3 state region. He also serves as the Art Therapy Program Coordinator.

Greetings to all! My name is Nathan Knick and I currently reside in Alexandria with my wife, Amber, and four boys, Tyler (11), Micah (9), Caleb (7), and Jordan (5). I grew up in Fergus Falls, graduating in 2000. I began my education by attending the Fergus Falls Community College, then transferring to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. After graduating in 2005, I found my first art teaching position in Alexandria and have been teaching in the community ever since. In 2017, I created an “In the Moment” art competition called Art Wars. I’m currently working to spread Art Wars and have competitions in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota next year. My favorite mediums to work in are ceramics and drawing, although I like using a mix of everything. The biggest inspiration for my art is Dr Pepper. It’s simply the best tasting soda, often described as the nectar of the gods. The logos have been some of the greatest in the industry since its inception in 1885 though my favorite to incorporate is the one from the 1990’s. When not at home or in the classroom……Ha, who am I kidding.