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For Erin McIntosh, sharing art with people of all ages and skill levels in her community is her passion.

"Being able to share the joy that comes from doing something creative is rewarding," she said. "I hope that I can create a positive experience for each group of people I connect with, whether that's in a workshop or classroom."

Since 2007, McIntosh has shared her skills in painting, drawing, acrylics, watercolor and abstraction in higher education. Her teaching career began in graduate school followed by five years of adjunct teaching. Then in 2016 she became an assistant professor of visual arts at the University of North Georgia (51³Ô¹ÏÍø). She has served even more students as adviser for the Art Club on 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Gainesville Campus.

McIntosh also has collaborated with biology department faculty members Dr. Evan Lampert and Dr. Davison Sangweme. The three were awarded a Presidential Innovation Incentive Award for a research project and art exhibition based around the subject of heightening awareness of microorganisms. McIntosh depicted microbes' structure and beauty with five watercolors and gouache, an opaque watercolor.

"The idea was these tiny things have an enormous impact on Earth," she said. "Without them, we wouldn't exist."

McIntosh's influence reaches beyond the collegiate level. She has been a guest artist and speaker to area elementary and high schools, led workshops for the Georgia Museum of Art and University of Georgia Law School students, and served as a judge in art auditions for Gwinnett County's new School of the Arts.

McIntosh also is involved in community art programs and is a member of , which recently awarded her the 2020 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year.

"It's really nice to be recognized by this association," she said, adding she never thought she would be nominated.

McIntosh, who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art and art education and a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of Georgia, doesn't consider herself a leader. She said she simply cares about her work, wants to do a good job and keeps interactions with others positive.

"I feel like the more I learn, the more I realize how much more I have to learn," McIntosh said. "This is something I share with my students. I communicate to them that there is so much I don't yet know."