Robert Nowalk Biography

Biography

"How did you come to work at Culver?" This is a question I have been asked to consider nearly every Alumni or Parent Weekend since arriving here in 1996. Usually the context is in casual conversation but I haven't developed a pat response yet. When a parent asks, I feel obligated to talk about my background. Alumni are more interested in the Culver connection. Generally, I begin by thinking through my resume.

I often skip the part about being an Artist/Teacher since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Dayton in 1975. Though I am very proud of this, I understand that most people would like to hear more about what was happening prior to Culver. So, I talk about spending 20 wonderful years teaching in the Public Schools of Dayton, Ohio. If mentioning Dayton kindles a flash of recognition, I volunteer that I also taught in the Museum Education Program at the Dayton Art Institute during that time. If not, I stretch the geographic reference to include two years spent in East Lansing, Michigan where, in 1990, I earned a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Michigan State University . Then comes the Culver connection.

Culver came into the picture in 1980 when my sister Nancy left our parent's home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to work as a CGA Counselor. Jenny, my wife, and I would often stop by to visit as we traveled through Indiana. Though we were happy in Dayton, more than once we wondered what it would be like to move to Culver, have me teach at the Academies, and live closer to family. Though we had both received our fair share of awards and accolades in Dayton, something about this was exciting. When the opportunity presented itself in the spring of 1996, we jumped.

At this point most people ask if we are happy here and I quickly affirm that we are. I have a studio in Culver and continue to paint. Jenny works in the area part time as an Audiologist. In our small family we have two graduates from Culver Girls Academy, a Woodcraft Drum and Bugle Corp alumnus, and two more children who refer to Maxincuckee as "their lake". This usually elicits a laugh and then my partner in conversation will inevitably say, "Its a great place to raise a family." "Yes, it is" I respond, "and a great place to teach."

This Page was created and is maintained by: Robert Nowalk. Last update: 03/22/04