Faculty
Mary Beth Akre, MFA
- Academic Focus Visual & Performing Arts
“Our strength teaching in the arts at Loyola is our ability to work with each student to develop his or her own viewpoint and ideas and so that they learn how to create images to communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner,” says Mary Beth Akre, MFA, professor of visual and performing arts/studio arts. Akre, who grew up near Baltimore, is also a Loyola graduate. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Loyola in 1980. As a student, Akre played basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey; she was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute, College of Art and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Radford University. A landscape painter, Akre’s work has been exhibited nationally. As a professor, Akre believes in the university’s mission, in weaving the Jesuit values and service into her courses and teaching, and in promoting an awareness of social justice issues to inspire her students. Through her classes—including service-learning courses, like her Introduction to Painting class—students have the opportunity to engage with and bring art into the local community. “Compassion is a quality that every one of us should develop and practice for our entire life. Serving creates moments of grace, compassion, and joy,” she says.
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Every faculty member here genuinely cares about their students and their success in the arts. We display student work both on and off campus. This shows our students that we expect excellent work and that we know that they will create it.