The art department’s new adjunct professor, Jennifer Jarnot, describes herself as a narrative painter who is happy to be joining her family in Kansas.

Jarnot received her Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Co. She is teaching digital photography and two sections of visual language this semester.

Jarnot said she chose to leave her teaching position at the University of Colorado because the university does not hire alumni as full-time professors. Jarnot said she did online research on Baker before sending her portfolio to Lee Mann, chair of the art department.

“When I visited, I fell in love with the size of the campus,” Jarnot said. “When I talked to the students, I was blown away by their enthusiasm for the classes they were taking.”

Jarnot said her expertise is in painting and she hopes to expose the students to contemporary artists. Jarnot said so many students only think of art in the traditional since of drawing or painting.

She is using environmental art in her Visual Language classes to change the way students think about art. The projects are supposed to blend into the environment and be made of natural materials such as leaves or berries.

“My main focus is working with the students and letting them know what’s going on in the contemporary art world,” Jarnot said. “I also learn a lot from my students.” 

Mann said Jarnot seemed to fit the generalist professor the department needed. Because of the size of the department, Mann wanted a professor with a wide range of knowledge so that person could cover a lot of areas.

“(Jarnot) brings a new energy to this department, and I think students are really looking forward to painting next semester,” Mann said.

Mann said the art department has seen a substantial increase in the number of art majors this semester resulting in professors being spread very thin.

“It is really great but scary because of the lack of faculty,” Mann said.

Sophomore Mercedes Schlapper is an art and education major. Schlapper said the university should take this opportunity to grow. Schlapper has not had Jarnot as a professor, but she said she is interested in painting.

“I am definitely planning on taking her classes next semester,” Schlapper said.