By Sarah R. Schwartz

When Art Education major Stephen Neafsey ’10 talks about his work, you can be sure he’s going to challenge the way you perceive your world. He recently presented his thesis “Spirituality in Space,” a stunning collection of 16 small-scale paintings reminiscent of the early 19th century Romantic painters.

“Moments are often taken for granted or overlooked,” he says. “Through the investigation of atmospheric elements including mood, light, and shapes, I intend to reveal these spiritual moments of beauty and simplicity within the natural environments of the everyday.”

Reflecting back on his experiences at Arcadia, Neafsey notes the classes he found the most influential and relevant. Uses of Theory in Art Education and Curriculum Design in Art Education with Adjunct Professor John A. Heusser provided the type of practical information Neafsey will need to instruct in the classroom.

“After taking these courses, I feel truly prepared for future jobs in the field. They provide Arcadia students unique learning opportunities that you won’t find at many other schools,” he says.

As for his future plans, he may be bounding out into the world, but he’s not quite finished with everything Arcadia has to offer. Neafsey will return in the fall as a graduate student, completing his student teaching requirements. Through Arcadia’s College of Global Studies, he is looking forward to student teaching both in the Philadelphia area and London. Eventually, Neafsey wants to pursue a teaching position through the Department of Defense Education Aboard (DoDEA) program, touching the lives of military families abroad.