“In the day-to-day life of an educator, you’re not thinking about an award or some other recognition for your work; you’re really just doing the work because it needs to be done,” said Todd. “When I was told I had been nominated for these honors, I was speechless, because you can’t expect something like this will happen. I tell my students all the time that if you’re not teaching because you want to make a difference in your students’ lives every day, then you need to go into something else.”
Before coming to KCAD in 2004, Todd taught at Cornerstone University and Oakland University, as well as at the high school and junior high levels. She also has gained a wealth of leadership experience through a number of positions with both the MAEA and the National Art Education Association (NAEA). She currently serves as the Vice President Elect of the NAEA’s Western Region, and will assume the role of Vice President in 2017. Throughout her career, Todd has made creating impact her top priority, both in her own classroom and in the larger sphere of art education.
At KCAD, Todd’s leadership, vision, and commitment have set a positive example that her students have been eager to follow. Last year, the KCAD NAEA student chapter was named the Outstanding Student Chapter for its numerous community service projects, including work with Kids Food Basket, ArtPrize Education Days, and The Memory Project, a unique initiative where KCAD students created portraits of children in Ghana and sent them overseas for the children to enjoy. Todd was honored with the national Outstanding Student Chapter Sponsor of Excellence Award the previous year.
“Even though they’ve had such tremendous success, I would never tell my students that the awards come, because educators spend the vast majority of our time doing work that’s internally fulfilling,” said Todd. “You get to live every day with the immense satisfaction of knowing you made an impact.”
Dr. Cindy Todd is pictured helping out at the annual KCAD Art Education Student Association benefit event.
Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) is committed to creating lasting impact in West Michigan and beyond through collaborative partnerships, cultural innovation, and an educational model that develops the talent of individuals into a force for intellectual growth, individual creativity, and community engagement. For more information, please visit www.kcad.edu.