Dr. Rachel Somerville, EdD, Chair of Art Education at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D), is committed to building programs that support teachers and students through thoughtful curriculum design and meaningful opportunities for multimodal creative expression. Her work centers on developing courses grounded in reflection, accessibility, and student voice. She works at the intersection of creativity, learning, and community, bringing people together through collaborative projects and opportunities to create, explore, and think through making. Rachel holds a BFA from Scripps College, a Master’s in Art Education from Arizona State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Davis.
2025 – Roger Gilmore Award, Maine College of Art & Design
2023 – Higher Education Excellence Award, New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE)
2022 – Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year, Maine Art Education Association