Docent Profiles		Print This Page Email This Page

SMoCA's docents are the heart of the museum education program. This group of highly trained volunteers gives thousands of hours each year to the Museum, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for art with visitors of all ages. Each month, SMoCA recognizes one docent for his or her outstanding service. We are grateful to the docents for their dedication to SMoCA.

BETSY POPOV

February 2004

After serving as a docent in Prescott, Arizona for 13 years, where she gave school outreach presentations on art and symphony music, Betsy brought her expertise to SMoCA. Since 1998, Betsy has eagerly signed up to do tours and has brought her nurturing skills to the performance review committee. She delights in working with younger children, and has been particularly active in the Toddler Tuesday program. Betsy's graciousness and enthusiasm also serve her well in her work with New Song Center for Grieving Children. She especially likes to use puppets and other tools to help 3-4 year olds work through their grief. Betsy holds a BA in fine arts from the College of William and Mary.

GLORIA STEIN

January 2004

Gloria has been a very active docent at SMoCA since 1997. One of her most valuable contributions is her tireless effort to maintain the adopt-a-school program, begun several years ago by docent Ada Levin. As a former art teacher, Gloria is a master at developing and teaching hands-on art projects to students following slide outreach presentations at the adopted elementary school. In addition, Gloria is the chair of the docent outreach program which takes slide presentations on a variety of art subjects to schools throughout the Valley. Gloria holds a BA degree in art education and an MFA in fine arts.

PAT KNAUER

December 2003

Since 1998, Pat has brought great energy, enthusiasm and dedication to her docent activities at SMoCA. Her experience in teaching English, social studies, speech and drama at the junior high and high school levels accounts for the ease with which she relates to students. Her willingness to jump in and do tours whenever needed is most appreciated. Pat is particularly interested in theater, aerobics, dancing, gardening, people, art museum, NBA basketball games and her eight grandchildren! Pat holds a B.S. degree from Moorhead State College where she studied English, drama and social studies.

JACKIE TOPUS

November 2003

Jackie is another stellar docent at SMoCA who began her service in 1996. After 17 years in elementary education, Jackie brought her love of working with students to SMoCA. Jackie's long and active service as a docent includes a major role in helping to develop and administer the apprentice docent program. This year, she is the head mentor for the docent candidate class. Jackie holds a B.S. degree in elementary education from Hofstra University.

KAREN VORIS

October 2003

Karen became a SMoCA docent in 1998 and quickly became active. The 12 years she spent as an elementary teacher in Washington , D.C. and Indiana, Tennessee and Michigan prepared her for valuable contributions to SMoCA's youth programs. Karen worked hand-in-hand with the museum's associate curator of education, Sally Lindsay, in the development of the Toddler Tuesday and Art Start programs for three to five year olds. Karen earned a BA in history from Western College for Women and an MAT in elementary education from George Washington University.

ELAINE CHERNEY

September 2003

A docent since 1999, Elaine was a mainstay of the summer docent corps. She gave numerous tours for students participating in the Center for the Arts' Cool Kids Camp and helped organize and review our school outreach slide presentations and equipment. Elaine served as secretary of the docent board and was the docent president's eyes, ears and hands while she was away for the summer. If this wasn't enough, Elaine has been hard at work heading up the docent apprentice program, a ten-week advanced training program, which started in September. Elaine holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and, prior to her retirement, taught in the public school system for 4-1/2 years and at the university level for 26 years.