Roxy Ryan, who serves as director of admission for the Hartford Art School, has been named the recipient of the 2027 Outstanding Connecticut Higher Education Art Educator of the Year Award, presented by the Connecticut Art Educators Association (CAEA).
Nominated and selected by her peers, Ryan received the award on Nov. 3, during CAEA’s Professional Development Program at Five Points Arts Center. The award recognizes exemplary contributions to the field of visual arts education throughout Connecticut.
For Ryan, the honor is especially meaningful, and also a full-circle moment for her. After graduating from Hartford Art School in 2018, she promised members of the community that she would find her way back. Eight years later, she has returned not only as a member of the Hartford Art School team, but as its director of admission, working alongside mentors who once guided her as a student.
“Receiving this award makes me feel like I belong with all of the successful Hartford Art School alumni that I spend so much of my time bragging about to prospective students and families,” Ryan shared.
Through her work, Ryan has built meaningful relationships across Hartford Art School, the University of Hartford, and Connecticut’s broader arts and creative communities. She is passionate about helping prospective students discover the same sense of belonging, opportunity, and community that shaped her own experience as a student.
“Hartford Art School is an incredibly special community that prepared me to navigate the world in a way that works best for me. I hope as director of admission, I help students find that here too,” she said.
Congratulations to Roxy on this well-deserved recognition! We are proud to celebrate her accomplishments and the meaningful impact she continues to make in arts education and the Hartford Art School community.