Art professor receives national Photoshop award

The list of award-winning faculty at Pittsburg State University keeps getting longer.

Rhona Shand, PSU associate professor of art, was honored this week with the Bruce Fraser Photoshop World Memorial Scholarship at the Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas. Shand was presented with the award on Wednesday in front of 3,000 attendees. She is the first recipient of the award, which honors famed Photoshop author and instructor Bruce Fraser, who passed away late last year.

Shand, who has been with Pitt State for six years and serves as undergraduate coordinator for the department, teaches courses in electronic studio, photography, design, and commercial art. It was over the summer that she attended a Photoshop workshop in Santa Fe, where she was trained by one of the country’s only two AdobeEvangelists (Adobe Photoshop experts who offer conferences and give demonstrations and training on Photoshop). Her AdoveEvangelist was so impressed to see Shand’s Photoshop work from the past several years that she nominated her for the scholarship.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Shand said. “Then all of a sudden I get a call from the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. It was such a surprise to get this award.”

In addition to covering her travel expenses, the scholarship covers the total cost of the conference. The award was presented by Scott Kelby, president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

Shand’s first book of original art was published last year. She was nominated for the PSU Teacher of the Year Award two years ago.

---Pitt State---