September 19-20, 2002

ITEM 116-2004-R0902   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Art upon Willem Volkersz; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:  Upon the occasion of the retirement of Willem Volkersz from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University system, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION:  Willem Volkersz received his Baccalaureate with Honors from the University of Washington in 1965 and his Master of Fine Arts from Mills College in 1967. After holding faculty positions at Ohio University, and the Kansas City Art Institute, Willem joined the faculty in the School of Art at Montana State University in 1986. He served as Director of the School of Art until 1991 and as professor of art for 16 years. During his years of service to MSU, Professor Volkersz made significant contributions to teaching, research, and service.

As a member of the School of Art faculty Professor Volkersz taught beginning level studio foundations and was the coordinator of our large fundamental core course for non-majors (Art 114F). In addition Willem worked with graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts Program. As a teacher in the arts, and a committed artist Willem was successful in integrating his interest in sculpture, photography, and drawing into compelling problem solving in his classes. Those creative problems that Willem used in his MSU courses were also those that he was asked to share in lectures and visiting artist workshops around the country.

In Willems own work as a sculptor, he has had a long and steady career. His work has been shown all over the West and he continues to exhibit his work widely. He is also the only faculty member in the art school to have had a solo exhibition at the Museum of the Rockies. Willem's artwork is full of wonderful, personal observations about his youth, family, and his immigrant background.

In addition to his creative work, Professor Volkersz is also a well known authority on Folk Art. He curates and lends his own collection to exhibitions, serves on national boards, and delivers papers relative to this indigenous art form. He has published twenty-three articles on Folk Art.

As an extension to his teaching, and a demonstration to his total commitment to the art community, Willem worked diligently with the Beall Park Art Center and the Emerson Cultural Center. His work has enriched the cultural opportunities for the Bozeman community and people of all ages.

Professor Volkersz's awards are too numerous to list completely but include a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, an Andrew Mellon Senior Fellowship in the Humanities, a Montana Arts Council Individual Art Fellowship, an Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Anna Krueger Fridley Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Charles and Nora L. Wiley Award for Meritorious Research & Creativity, and the James and Mary Ross Provost Award for Excellence.

For these and other contributions the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer Willem Volkersz the rank of Professor of Emeritus of Art at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.