January 8, 2021 Val Roberts, Part-time Instructor Studio Art. Photo Credit UAH Art, Art History & Design It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our colleague and dear friend Val Roberts. Val was taken from us by the Corona Virus on January 3rd after a brief hospital stay. Although Val taught her first class at UAH in 1998, she began teaching regularly in 2012 and took on more classes after she retired from the Huntsville City Schools. Val was a gifted teacher who cared deeply for her students—and they all loved her too. Her dedication to our foundations students helped them with their transition into art students and college life overall. Under her tutelage, students learned technical and creative skills that served them throughout their time at UAH and throughout their careers in the arts. She was also instrumental in the development of our Art Education BA track. She believed so strongly in the importance of art education that she was willing to contribute many hours (unpaid) to make sure we could offer the degree to our students. She was glad to share her extensive experience working in the public schools with our budding educators, ensuring that her legacy will encompass future students and the many whose lives she touched. As a colleague, she served as a mentor to new faculty members. Part-time drawing and painting instructor Daniel Reidy said this of her:"Val was so kind to me the minute I walked in the door. In the first week, maybe the first day, she offered me her prepared drawing exercises and any help she could give me adjusting to a new school. I happened to be playing the Clash, and Joe Strummer was among her musical mandatories. Boom- fast friends. The warmth she showed me that first term with UAH solidified the notion that I had landed in the right spot. She cared so thoroughly for the advancement of the kids during her time with them. At home, when my wife and I would share stories of how the day went, I would refer to Val as my "punk rock girlfriend." I will miss her dearly." Vinny Argentina described her as a "genuine, lovely person with a lot of grit and a great sense of humor. I always found it particularly remarkable that she was able to find the humor in even the most difficult of her circumstance." Foundations and Painting instructor Aynslee Moon said, "So many times I would just pop into Val's office, and we would follow any conversational rabbit hole, and laugh, how we would laugh. I remember how she loved music, I mean really loved it, deep in her soul. She was such a great teacher; she treated her students with patience, dignity, and compassion. I know this because I heard it said of her anytime her name came up amongst students. She was not just a fellow teacher; she was a fellow artist. I remember the last time we all gathered for figure drawing in my garage studio, right before this horrible, evil virus began making its appearance. We all talked, laughed, vented about politics and society, drank wine, and drew Iris. She was so talented, especially at drawing people and their beautiful form and soulful essence. If I had known that figure drawing session was the last time I would see her and her warm, gentle, happy smile, I would have hugged for a long, long time. But it still wouldn't have been long enough."All of her friends and colleague her at UAH will miss her every day. We were so lucky to have her as part of our department.
