BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

New chairman appointed to masters program

Laguna College of Art & Design has appointed Perin Mahler as the new chairman of the Masters of Fine Art in Painting program beginning this fall.

Perin received his MFA in painting at City University of New York and has taught for the past 12 years at the University of Cincinnati, Kendall College of Art and Design and Grand Valley State University in Michigan. His narrative figure paintings have been exhibited nationally, winning numerous awards. His work is in the collections of The Cincinnati Art Museum, The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Grand Valley State University as well as many private collections. He is also represented by the A.B. Closson Jr. Gallery in Cincinnati.

In fall 2006, Laguna College launched a Master of Fine Arts in Painting program, emphasizing contemporary realist painting. It is a two-year-degree program in the production and theory of representational drawing and painting. Under the guidance of LCAD faculty, each student produces a series of thematically related paintings as their graduate project.

State Street funds computers at Club

State Street employees at the firm’s Irvine location recently granted $10,000 in support of providing children with daily access to computer technology at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. This donation will provide 17 new computers and monitors for the Club’s education and Teen centers, allowing the Club to implement Operation Connect program.

The Operation Connect program will prepare members for today’s high-tech world by helping them develop an understanding of how computers work, the types of opportunities they provide, and their role in modern society. The program uses technology to support and advance members’ intellectual development as well as developing members’ interests, skills and motivation to explore careers in science and technology.

State Street became involved with the Club in 2007 through one of their employees, whose child participated in the Club’s after-school program. Several State Street employees have volunteered to go on field trips and help children with homework in our Education Center.

State Street representatives Teresa Ashley, Poonum Gandhi and Jane Baker visited the Club and presented the check for the computer lab.

“The new computer lab will open up a world of technology for our kids, we are so grateful for State Streets support,” said Pamela Estes, club executive director.

For more, call Michelle Ray at (949) 494-2535, ext. 103.