Art professor from Moorpark College has been selected to be the chair of the Art Department and will begin her new appointment in the fall semester.

Erika Lizée was nominated by her colleague Cynthia Minet, art professor and was voted into the position by other faculty in the department.

“I am looking forward to serving for the next two years,” said Lizée. “The Digital, Media and Visual Arts Department has a diverse range of disciplines within it, with very dynamic faculty. I am looking forward to working with them.”

Minet looks forward to her colleague’s appointment and believes she will do an excellent job.

“I am so happy that Erika Lizee will be our new department chair,” said Minet. “She has all the qualities that will make her successful in her new role. I am looking forward to working with her during the next two years.”

Lizée said she had been teaching painting, 2D design, drawing and gallery practices/portfolio classes full-time at the college for eight years. She also serves as the director of the campus art gallery.

Lizée’s responsibilities as chair will differ greatly from that of a professor.

“As chair, I will serve as an advocate for and representative of the disciplines in my department as a member of many different campus committees,” said Lizée. “Within the department, the chair serves on faculty evaluation committees, assists the deans and faculty with maintaining budgets, schedules, facilities, program plans, etc.”

Lizée said she will spend less time working with students because she will spend more time on her duties as the chair department. Above all else, Lizée said she loves teaching her studio art classes because it allows her to work with students individually and as a group.

“It is rewarding to see their artistic growth over the course of a semester, and even more exciting when I have students return in a different class I am teaching,” said Lizée.