Craigardan To Welcome New Staff
Janelle A. Schwartz joins Craigardan as Director of Innovation, Programs and Development
Craigardan, a non-profit arts residency and community education center in the Adirondacks, is pleased to announce the appointment of Janelle A. Schwartz, PhD, to its leadership team starting July 1, 2020.
Working alongside Executive Director Michele Drozd, Janelle will dedicate her time and expertise to the strategic innovations and practical plans that are building Craigardan for local, national, and international audiences. She will develop and direct Adirondack-focused educational programs for all ages, lead grant-writing and other fundraising efforts, and promote Craigardan’s variety of community initiatives.
Janelle received her PhD in literature and the history of science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and taught environmental studies and literatures at Loyola University New Orleans and Hamilton College. Janelle brings two decades of professional experience in higher education to Craigardan, with an emphasis on curriculum design and program development, program management, and partner engagement. She has published and presented widely on literature and ecology, social justice, the Adirondacks, pedagogy, natural philosophy, and more. As the Founder of the Adirondack Program for Hamilton College, she created a place-based semester that was anchored in the local food systems of Essex and Franklin Counties, structured as an experiential living-learning community, and focused on the economic, social, political, ecological, and cultural interplays that inform our region. Janelle is no stranger to our Adirondack friends and neighbors, having created an extensive and inspiring network of local partners across all sectors in the Park. She feels very fortunate for the opportunity to bring her community collaborations to Craigardan, and expand them in new and exciting ways.
Since founding Craigardan in 2016, Michele has worked with Janelle on a variety of collaborative projects. She is thrilled to welcome Janelle to the staff, especially during this difficult time. “This is a reason to celebrate. By sharing her vision and passion for community enrichment in her new role at Craigardan, and as our region evolves with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Janelle will help develop and strengthen our ability to provide place-based, multidisciplinary opportunities in the North Country and beyond.”
Craigardan has quickly become known internationally for its community-focused residencies that welcome artists and scholars of all disciplines to further their work in the heart of the Adirondacks. The local public participates in classes, lectures, and events led by visiting artists, writers, chefs, potters, agriculturalists, performing artists, musicians, and scholars. In addition to its innovative residency program, Craigardan leverages creative collaboration for social change — most notably through its leadership role in the region’s Food Justice Working Group.