Pooja Nair

 Lead Art Teacher at J.T. Williams Secondary Montessori School, Charlotte

Education:
BFA in Applied Arts, University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, India
Graduate Certificate in Art Education, UNC Charlotte (2019)

Hometown: India

Since childhood, Pooja Nair has held a deep passion for teaching. She initially pursued a career in graphic and web design, but the calling to teach persisted.

“I started teaching at our Sunday School when my kids were little and enrolled there to volunteer,” she says. “Initially hesitant, it proved to be a transformative experience for me. Simultaneously, I started teaching art to neighborhood children. Recognizing the synergy of my passions, I enrolled at UNC Charlotte, benefiting from exceptional professors who deepened my teaching knowledge and passion.”

Earning her Graduate Certificate in Art Education, Pooja soon become an award-winning educator. Last fall she was named “Rookie Teacher of the Year” by the North Carolina Art Educators Association (NCAEA). 

“Art education plays a crucial role in our society as it offers numerous benefits to students,” Pooja says. “It aids in reducing stress levels, fosters expressiveness and improved communication skills, enhances emotional regulation, and promotes social skills. Furthermore, art education has a positive impact on students’ performance in other subjects, thanks to its ability to instill a calming influence in their lives.”

Pooja is now pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts from the Academy of the Arts in San Francisco, an online program chosen to support her strengths as an artist and a teacher.

Particularly interested in portraiture, she has contributed “Reshma” to the Generations exhibition in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History. The portrait depicts a Rajasthani street vendor she photographed on a return trip to India.