The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has named AAEP alumna Verónica Betancourt, PhD (2019), Director of Interpretation at The Baltimore Museum of Art, to receive the 2020 Elliot Eisner Doctoral Research Award in Art Education. Dr. Betancourt was co-advised by Associate Professor Karen Hutzel in Arts Administration, Education and Policy and Professor Theresa Delgadillo in Comparative Studies for her dissertation titled "Visiting while Latinx: An Intersectional Analysis of the Experiences of Subjectivity among Latinx Visitors to Encyclopedic Art Museums." This prestigious award, determined through a peer review of nominations, recognizes the value of doctoral research to the profession of art education and its related disciplines, advocates on behalf of such research, and fosters continued support of doctoral research in art education. The award will be presented at the NAEA National Convention in Minneapolis, MN, March 26-28, 2020. 

NAEA President Thom Knab states, "This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Verónica Betancourt exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession."

Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to become art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 54,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society. NAEA represents members in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, U.S. Possessions, most Canadian Provinces, U.S. military bases around the world, and 25 foreign countries.

The mission of NAEA is to advance visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding.