There have been two professors at St. Olaf that I have felt to be spectacular: Professor Anda Tanaka, who taught Foundations of 2D Media, and Professor Sarah Sampedro, who taught Photography. It was difficult to choose one, so I’ll go over why both of these professors have been great to learn from.

First, Professor Tanaka is one of the most amazing and chill professors I’ve ever had. She gives truly helpful feedback both while teaching and throughout the process of assignments, and her class lets you freely play around with creating art. Tanaka is also supportive of students’ busy schedules and unique interests by setting realistic timelines on her assignments and allowing for flexibility on what you wish to create. She was the professor who encouraged me to become a studio art major — I was on the fence, but when I talked to her more about my artistic interests, I decided to declare. 

The same thing goes for the second professor I am spotlighting: Professor Sampedro for Photography. She’s very passionate about what she teaches, so I enjoyed learning everything about the basics of digital and film photography from her. Professor Sampedro has a great teaching style, is super passionate about art, and has detailed lesson plans. If you have any questions on course material, or simply need a second opinion on your work, she will be available to help. 

Both of these wonderful professors have helped me throughout my artistic journey, as well as supported me as a person. I am grateful for the work they’ve done.