NORTHERN TODAY 8 FALL 2014 NORTHERN NEWS Q&A Associate Professor of Art (teaches design, graphic design, illustration, mixed media, drawing and art appreciation); NSU 2013-14 Outstanding Faculty Award winner; NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative. Sara Christensen Blair Hometown: I would have to say that Ab- erdeen is my hometown now because it is the place that I have lived the longest, almost one-third of my life. My dad worked for 3M and we moved every four-five years (Brook- ings - Chicago - Aberdeen - Brussels, Belgium). So while I was born in Brookings, I think I’m officially an “Aberdonian.” Family: Husband: Greg Blair, 37, Asso- ciate Professor of Art at NSU, sculpture and art history Son: Liam, 5 Daughter: Stella, 3 Parents: Sandy and Lowell Christensen of Lake Enemy Swim, S.D. Q. How long have you worked at NSU? A. I am in my ninth year at NSU. Q. What brought you to Northern? A. During graduate school I had the opportunity to teach “solo” for 2.5 years and knew when I graduated I would start looking for a faculty job. While working as a graphic designer for two years in addition to oth- er jobs, I was also job-hunting all over the country at colleges and universities. When I saw the opening at NSU for an art professor, I thought it would be fun to apply and see what happens. Q. What is the best part of your job? A. The best part of my job is working with students who are passionate about art and design and eager to learn the techniques, theories and history of art and design. Academia is a strange creature because we get to start fresh every semester with a new group of students in different courses. Each class has its own dynamic and that perpetual cycle keeps things from getting mundane and repetitive. The change in technology also keeps me on my toes and constantly learn- ing alongside the students. I also have wonderful colleagues in the art department, School of Fine Arts and across campus. I even get to work with my husband, as he is also an art professor at NSU. Q. What is your favorite class to teach and why? A. My favorite class to teach is called Mixed Media, and it is a course I developed when I arrived at NSU that includes multiple media, contempo- rary theory and experimental art techniques ranging from embroidery to video. That said, I always love teaching the introductory graphic design class because of my uber-nerdy interest in typography and graphics. Q. What is the best career advice you have ever received? A. “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Su- per-cheesy and ubiquitous, this line of advice has resonated with me for years. I don’t know who said it, where I heard it, and why I remember it, but I thought it was good advice; especially given I was interest- ed in a slightly difficult subject matter to turn into a career, art. The other great snippet of advice I was given by my art professor was, “go to graduate school. You can never have enough degrees and you should teach someday.” I will always be grateful to Professor McClain (Gustavus Adolphus College) for having the confidence in my work to push me into pursu- ing art as a scholarly research activity and career path. What advice would you like to share with students? A. Quit worrying so much about your career, you are only 18! Instead, focus on the privilege of being in school, choosing to learn more about a subject you are passionate about. Don’t do things because you are supposed to live up to some exterior expectations, study what you are interested in and figure out how to make it into a career later. In my sophomore year of college, I bought a lottery ticket. While my mom was driving me back to school after Christmas break, she asked me what I would do if I had all the money I ever needed. I responded, “I’d be an art major.” The next day I went to the registrar and changed all my classes and declared my major as art. Since I was pre-med, my parents were a little disappointed, but they are amazingly supportive. Luckily, it all worked out and I have a job with good benefits that I love. Q. Do you have any hobbies you want to mention? A. I’m an avid want-to-be ath- lete. I love playing basketball, volleyball, golf and racquetball. I ran my first half marathon this past summer and have really come to love pushing myself physically. I also play the violin and used to play in the Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony but since having kids, I’ve taken a long break. I hope to pick up my fiddle again in the next few years. Q. Is there anything else you want to include? A. I am so fortunate to work at NSU because of the students, staff, faculty and administration. It seems like every year the city of Aberdeen and the NSU campus just get better and better! Every job has its quirks, and this one isn’t immune, but working here has given me the freedom to become a better scholar, artist and most importantly, teacher. I sometimes think that I should try to finish another degree here so I can be an alumna. As we say in our family, “we are bleeding maroon and gold.” I’ve even got my kids shouting “go Wolves” whenever we drive by NSU football practice on the way home.
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