For Jean Dahlgren, a 2001 graduate of the “Get your Master’s with the Masters” program at Marywood University, Scranton, Pa., art is something that she was passionate about from the first moment she can remember. Recently named as the president of the Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD), Wilmington, Del., Jean continues to live her passion by inspiring others to find theirs.
“I was just born an artist, and I’ve never considered doing anything else,” Jean said. Jean’s mother was an artist and encouraged her to find her passion, and Jean feels lucky to have had someone who encouraged her talent. “That’s what I hope to do with young artists—encourage them to find their passions, to stamp out the negatives, and help them [young artists] to find a way to make a living at it,” she continued.
At the time that Jean attended Marywood University’s low-residency program, “Get Your Master’s with the Masters,” she had small children, a business, and a full-time job. When searching for graduate schools, Jean was looking for a program that was in the right proximity with low-residency.
“Marywood worked for me – with a great location, an accredited program and low-residency – it was perfect. Being able to get to New York to complete study tours made it all possible for me and, Scranton is cool!” Jean said.
Crediting Marywood University’s “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” program with preparing her for her current position, Jean said, “the low-residency, self-directed discipline, organized and self-motivated program are all good qualities that are transferrable into the position I am currently in. The program is designed for working professionals. The expectations are very high and rigorous, but its perfect industry training to set the expectations so high.”
Jean said, “I am eternally grateful to Marywood University, as it prepared me for tremendous connections both within and outside of the program. The faculty, including Steven Brower, Ed Brodsky, and Sister Cor Immaculatum, IHM, helped us to feel a part of the Marywood community both as students and post-graduation.”
Jean earned a bachelor of arts degree in fine arts/printmaking and a master of arts degree in fine arts/painting from the State University of New York at Oswego. She earned her master of fine arts degree in graphic design from Marywood University. She taught at Sage College of Albany, Albany. N.Y., where she later served as coordinator for Sage’s graphic and media design program for 13 years, and then chaired its Art and Design Department for two years, before being named to the position of Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Sage College of Albany. She will become the third president of Delaware College of Art and Design on August 1, 2018.
As president of DCAD, Jean is excited to encourage students to help find their passions. “DCAD is a great choice for students from high school beginning their careers as artists and designers. DCAD has quality programs, excellent faculty and an exemplary living/learning community for students at its location in downtown Wilmington. “There are not many schools like DCAD—that are two-year private colleges for art and design—and I am incredibly excited to begin my tenure,” Jean said.
Visit "Get Your Master's with the Masters", or call (570) 348-6211, ext. 2569 for additional information.