The University of Georgia Center for Teaching and Learning annually recognizes graduate teaching assistants who surpass expectations. The 2023 Outstanding Teaching Award, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Instruction, has been awarded to graduate students J Taran Diamond (MFA candidate), Chad Hayward (MFA candidate), Devin Jo (PhD candidate in Art Education), and Tara Kraft-Ainsworth (PhD candidate in Art History) for their exceptional care and effectiveness in the classroom and studio.

Recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award will be formally recognized at the university's Spring Teaching Symposium on Wednesday, April 5 at noon in the Tate Grand Hall. 

The Inspiration

What sets these graduate student teachers apart? Art history PhD student Tara Kraft-Ainsworth leans into her journey of assimilating to college as a conduit for empathetic teaching. Tara notes, “I think my approach to being a TA is really informed by my experience in college as a first-generation student,” elaborating, “There were a lot of ropes I learned through trial and error, especially in writing, so I try to make the process as transparent as possible and meet students where they are in that process”

Chad Hayward, an MFA student teaching Studio Art Foundations courses, shares the significance of human connection and mentorship on building a meaningful classroom experience, “The teachers and mentors that made the biggest impact on me were the ones who took the time to slow down, listen, look, and share feedback.” Crucially, Chad is driven to “instill this same sense of genuine confidence in [his] students by sharing the joy of art making.”

Art education PhD student Devin Jo, who teaches art appreciation, worked as a grader for three years and says she has learned a lot from instructors in the process — how to communicate and interact with students in a large class that accommodates more than 100; how to structure a curriculum; where to derive various ideas and inspirations, including resources on artists from across the world with multicultural backgrounds, etc. This backbone of support has afforded Devin significant consideration in creating a fair and open environment for art appreciation, which, in her view, has “infinite and unexcavated possibilities to cover a broad scope/range of arts” and that “accommodates many students from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds.”

Work by Eason Parker in Drawing 1, taught by Chad Hayward

Books, Galleries, and Encouragement

Without a doubt, teaching is a practice that depends not only on dedication, organization, and care, but on trustworthy resources and support. Tara is grateful for the faculty in her area, who contribute feedback on curriculum, assist her with securing space, and encourage her unique approach to instruction — “Their willingness to experiment, see what works and what doesn't has helped me see teaching as a dynamic practice rather than a static set of steps.”

Citing on-campus facilities that offer pedagogical materials and technologies, Chad lists his top resources for teaching outside the school's studio spaces as the UGA Art Library, the CAVE (Checkout for Audiovisual Equipment), the Flat Lab, and the Georgia Museum of Art.

Devin's background with grading has not only inspired her to share thoughtful and consistent feedback with her students, she expresses deep gratitude for the graders who now support her as lead instructor, “without their cooperation and hard work, this class would never have run smoothly.” Moreover, Devin echoes Chad's appreciation for the Georgia Museum of Art — “Thanks to GMOA's active support, students were able to experience artworks in real space through museum field trips, and this class became more fruitful and enriching.”

Work by Samaya Porter in Drawing 1, taught by Chad Hayward

The Seeds of Curiosity and Tolerance

Fundamental to shepherding students in the arts is facilitating self-discovery. Chad, who thoroughly enjoys teaching Drawing 1 and watching nascent learners grow quickly, emphasizes a core tenet of curiosity in the classroom, “Alongside technique and observational skills, I aim to promote the seeds of curiosity within the classroom because I believe creativity, innovation, and discovery all originate in each individual's curiosity.”

On her end, Devin is inspired by international artists and sees the classroom as a space for bridging culture and cultivating safety, “It will always be my interest to build an art appreciation class where no one is hurt or put at risk and where tolerance and acceptance can be learned, embracing various sociocultural contexts and issues.” 

Considering himself a “late bloomer” in the arts, Chad is enthusiastic about how an arts education changed his life, “It all began in the margins of my notebooks in high school and quickly developed into a passion for the arts that gave my life direction. It's been so exciting sharing the art of drawing with students here at UGA.”

Work by Kylie Rincon in Drawing 1, taught by Chad Hayward

Student Bios

J Taran Diamond is a metalsmith and interdisciplinary craft artist based in Athens, Georgia, Where they study and teach at the University of Georgia after earning their BFA from the University of North Texas. Diamond’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at New York City Jewelry Week, Munich Jewelry Week, and the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art in Gimpo, South Korea. Outside of the studio, Diamond is an advocate for black people in academia, and works to dismantle the systemic barriers that make higher education inaccessible to black people.

Chad Hayward was born in New Jersey and then moved to Castle Rock, Colorado with his family at age 7. He attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2017. He then completed his MA in Studio Art at Eastern Illinois University in 2018. Chad began as an MFA Candidate in the fall of 2020 at the University of Georgia.

Devin Jo is an art educator and a visual storyteller. Her research interest covers art-based research, art-integrated learning, visual inquiry, and the lives of international (graduate) students. Devin Jo received her BA in Art Education from Korea National University and later received her MA from Hongik University.

Tara Kraft-Ainsworth is a PhD student studying the art and literature of interwar, European modernism. Her MA thesis explored the word-image correspondences between Leonora Carrington’s 1939 short story, “La Dame Ovale,” and 1942 painting of the same title, Green Tea (La Dame Ovale). This project traced the artist’s use of themes like migration, myth, and foreignness, to create a collective portrait of her geopolitical moment.