2016 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Lea Cline, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Art History from University of Texas at Austin (2013)
Assistant Professor, School of Art

Teaching philosophy

The core of my teaching philosophy is enthusiasm; I apply the spirit of Sheryl Crow’s famous tune, “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad,” to my classes and hope that by showing students how much joy my discipline brings me, they will not get hung up on the foreign vocabulary and jargon and, instead, open themselves to understanding the classical past as integral to their own experience.

Regarding my teaching accomplishments, I am proudest about

The most rewarding accomplishments are seeing students get really excited about art history, and understanding its value to their lives. This comes in the form of notes and letters from students, kind comments on evaluations, and, in the context of study abroad, a tear or two when they see a building/painting that they have studied with you and really “get it” for the first time.

The person that has been the important influence on my teaching career

My doctoral advisor, John Clarke, University of Texas at Austin.

Best moment in my teaching career

When I realized my students had made profound connections between the course material and their own lives.

Photo of Lea Cline — “…I believe in teaching by example and my students’ integrity and engagement in the classroom can only extend as far as my own.”