Dr. Joseph Uduehi, associate professor of art education, has been awarded the 2006 Sydney L. and Sadelle Berger Faculty Community Service Award. The award, presented by the USI Faculty and Academic Affairs committee, was announced during the College of Liberal Arts Honors Program on March 19.

Uduehi has been active in bringing art and art lessons to children in the community through art workshops, classes, and projects. Since 2000, he has organized and led the Saturday Art Workshop for Children series, offered each semester and during the summer at USI. Recently, he worked with the USI Art Club to create five scholarships for children to participate in the workshops each semester.

In addition to the instruction he provides though the Saturday Art Workshop and at the USI Children’s Center, Uduehi teaches children’s art classes in the community. He has led classes at Hands on Discovery Children’s Museum, Patchwork Central, and elementary and middle schools. In 2004, he worked with children in the Saturday Art Workshop program and USI art education students to create a 4 foot by 16 foot mural at Tekoppel Elementary School. He also has lectured area art teachers about multicultural art history.

Joan A. Kempf, associate professor of graphic design, nominated Uduehi. In the nomination, she wrote, “At a time when budget pressures in most elementary and secondary school systems have caused art programs to be decreased or cut, Dr. Uduehi’s Children’s Art Workshops and other service projects bring art and culture to our young students – and an exposure to the arts that they might not receive otherwise. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at USI, Dr. Uduehi does this extensive service on his own time, often on weekends and as a volunteer.

She continued, “Whether in his courses or in his contacts with the community, Dr. Uduehi has served as a role model and inspiration to us all as he encourages his students and others to offer service in areas of need. This recognition is a wonderful opportunity to express our appreciation and thank him for all of his efforts in bringing art, culture, and diversity to the community, but most importantly to our children.”

Uduehi holds a Doctor of Education in art education and a Master of Art degree in art education and cinematography from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Art degree in painting and drawing and certificate of education from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. He has been with USI since 1999.

The Berger Faculty Community Service Award recognizes a University faculty member for distinguished community service to groups, agencies, and institutions. The award was established in 1996 by Charles L. and Leslie Berger in honor of his parents, Sydney and Sadelle Berger.