Dennis Cannon, Ph.D.

In July, OAEA lost a pillar of our organization, Dr. Dennis Cannon.
 
A graduate of Ashland College (now University), Dennis began his career in art education teaching Visual Art in the Lexington Local School District. He earned his master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University and became the Coordinator for Gifted/Art Programs at the Mid-Ohio Education Service Center in Mansfield. His efforts focused on implementing professional development programs in gifted and art education. At this time he also became an adjunct faculty member at Ashland College and a lecturer at The Ohio State University, Mansfield Campus.
 
In 1999 he became Executive Director of the Ohio Partnership for the Visual Arts at The Ohio State University (OSU) while also pursuing and earning his Ph.D. in Art Education from the same institution. Dennis’ dissertation, Mentoring: A Study of Processes and Relationships in a Collaborative Curriculum Reform Research Project focused on the importance of teachers and university faculty working together in an arts integration curriculum research collaborative.
 
Dr. Cannon supervised teacher candidates for Ashland University and OSU and served as the Educational Consultant for VSA Arts of Ohio where he coordinated the Adaptation, Integration and the Arts (AIA) program which employs artists with disabilities to reinforce and enhance learning in inclusive classrooms through artist residencies. He retired from 2015 from the OSU Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy as the Director of Field Experiences and Student Teaching. He served on the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 1997 – 2007.
 
A member of OAEA, Dr. Cannon joined in 1968, receiving his 50 years Circa Award in 2018. He was not satisfied to just be a member but believed he should give back to the organization he believed in. He served as President of OAEA from 1997-99 and was inducted into the Distinguished Fellows in 1999. He was a founding member of the Ohio Art Education Foundation (OAEF) and served as its first President from 2001 to 2020 and Treasurer from 2005 to 2024. He served as co-president of the Foundation from 2020 – 2022. He was the North Central Regional Director from 1990 – 1993. OAEA recognized him as its Ohio Art Educator of the Year in 2009 and as the Emeritus Award winner in 2019. Working with his vast relationships in the state, he collaborated with the OAEF and the Ohio Arts Council for the exhibition Art Educators as Artist at the Riffe Gallery in 2018.
 
A regular presenter at OAEA and NAEA as well as a published author with articles in Art Education, Dr. Dennis Cannon provides us with an example of what it is to be a leader. While we mourn his loss, we celebrate the many gifts he gave to OAEA and art education.
 
Dennis left behind a son, daughter and 3 grandchildren. He is survived by his partner, Thomas Fuller.