By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

Andrea Eis, special instructor in the Department of Art and Art History, was honored by the Council on Education (ACE) Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education with the 2005 Phyllis Law Googasian Award during a luncheon April 4 in the Gold Rooms of the Oakland Center.

Eis started at OU in the fall of 1983 as an adjunct faculty member and left in 1991 to be a curator of exhibitions at the Creative Arts Center. She returned to OU in the fall of 1993 and has taught in a number of areas including studio art, video art and film. She also works with the senior thesis class and continues to be a practicing artist.

“I greatly appreciate the supportive community I have found at Oakland and I certainly hope I have created that for my students as well,” Eis said. “It feels good to have the support of people on campus who feel I should get this award.”

With a bachelor’s of fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a master’s in fine arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Eis also draws from her first bachelor’s degree in archeology and studies of mythology for inspiration in her own artwork. She has published a book of mythological photographs entitled, “Ancient Finds.”

Eis hopes to bring things to her students that she didn’t have when starting out in art, like professional development. She wants to help student learn to develop slides, approach galleries and be able to explain their artwork.

“We want our students to be able to write and speak about their art and the art of others,” Eis said.

The Googasian Award has been presented annually since 1992 to an outstanding woman leader who performs extraordinary service to the university community and demonstrates commitment to the positive development and advancement of women at Oakland. The award ceremony is OU’s premier campus event celebrating the success of women in higher education.

Previous honorees include:

• Fay Hansen – 2004
• Fatma Mili – 2003
• Mary Beth Snyder – 2002
• Natalie Cole and Martha Zingo – 2001
• Mary Otto – 2000
• Joan Rosen – 1999
• Suzanne Frankie – 1998
• Jacqueline Scherer – 1996
• Jacqueline Lougheed – 1995
• Cathy Rush and Liz Barclay – 1994
• Margo King – 1993
• Phyllis Law Googasian – 1992

The Googasian Award was created to honor Phyllis Law Googasian, trustee emerita, for her exceptional commitment to the university and to the advancement of women.