Katherine A. Svec

Katherine Anne Svec was born on August 5, 1948 in Ames, Iowa. She was educated in elementary and high schools in Ames and enrolled at Iowa State University in 1966 where she earned a B.S. degree in Art Education in 1970. She taught in West Chicago High School, 1971-75, where she created a new craft curriculum for grades 9-12. In addition to craft areas, she also taught drawing, printmaking, and ceramics, and designed and built theatrical sets. She was active as an art educator in the West Chicago community evening school program.

In 1975 Ms. Svec started graduate studies at the University of Tennessee where she majored in a special crafts program. During the summer of 1976 she continued these studies at the Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. When her major professor left the Univ. of Tennessee in 1976 she enrolled at the Florida State University, Tallahassee under the mentorship of Prof. William Harper, noted American enamelist. She earned the M.S. degree from the School of Fine Arts in 1977 doing enameling on porcelain art forms. For many years after she continued this work on her own.

In 1978 she became the Art Program Director at the Iowa State Memorial Union, in Ames, Iowa. There she managed and procured merchandise for the consignment shop for area artists; scheduled and installed 16 art exhibitions each year; developed, managed, and promoted craft studios and a non-credit education program; advised volunteer student program committees; and supervised the Performing Arts Director Graphic Artist and various student employees. She held this position until 1984, and then she took over as the Program Director at the Iowa State Memorial Union. In this position she directly managed, supervised, or advised the presentation of cultural, educational and recreation programs for Iowa State's diverse communities. This included lectures, workshops, films, plays, concerts, and art exhibitions. Supervising paid staff and advising volunteer student programs was part of the job. It also involved maintaining budgets and department accounting. She also wrote and edited manuals, listings, instructions, schedules, and brochures; developed policies, proposals, and procedures and curated the institution art collection and archives. It was a taxing position that she held until 1993 when she became the Marketing Coordinator for the Memorial Union. Here she developed a marketing plan which targeted specific audiences for various services. She also represents the organization at resource fairs and similar public events and is the primary contact for the media. Writing and editing a monthly newsletter and an annual newsletter to alumni is also part of her duties. As of February 1995, when this was written, she was still in this position.

Selected Honors & Exhibitions: 1994, 1987, 1976 - Art work selected for permanent collections of the ISU Credit Union (1994), Ames, IA and the Arrowmont School of Crafts (1987, 1976), Gatlinburg, TN
 1976, 1977 - Wooden folding screens selected for publication in "Fine Woodworking" magazine's "Design Book" and "Biennial Design Book".
1986 - ISU Distinguished Service Award for student advising Student Affairs Office.
1991 - Ames Historic Preservation Commission Award for significant achievements promoting historic preservation in and around Ames.
1992 - Sigglekow/Starr Award for service to professional association; Association of College Unions-International.
1993 - Nominated for Ames Chamber of Commerce Community Involvement Award.
1993 - Certificate of Recognition Student Affairs Human Relations Committee Iowa State University. 1977-1993 - One and two person exhibitions and group exhibitions in Ames and Central Iowa; annually and biannually.

Professional and Community Involvement: Katherine has been or is now active in the following:

Public Art Policy and Acquisition Commission of Ames, IA
Ames Heritage Association
 Story County REAP Committee
Gingko Festival Committee
Story County Sesquicentennial Commission
Ames Community Arts Council
Citizens for Tax Relief
Association of College Unions-International
Iowa Designer Crafts Association
University Museums Advisory Committee
Art Committee Iowa State University Credit Union
Octagon Center for the Arts.

Submitted on 7/1/96