Natalie Coletta ’87 majored in Art History. She is now a Professor of Art History at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Q. How did your URI degree best prepare you for your career path?

A. The department is small enough that you are known as an individual, and you know all of your peers and professors. We worked hard and were expected to produce meaningful work based on rigorous research methods. The art history faculty held us to high standards throughout my undergraduate degree, easily preparing me for transition into graduate school. This work norm and the in-house sibling relationship that we had with the art studio majors and faculty made us a family. During the formative years of my life, this was profoundly supportive and empowering. 

In your opinion, what is the value of the arts both academically and in the community?

There are many economic, social, intellectual and psychological benefits to the arts. In the context of education, it’s elemental to becoming an educated person. Exposing oneself to or engaging in the visual arts allows for us to develop our critical thinking. Enjoying the visual arts as a maker, researcher, writer, educator or viewer is a means of tapping into our humanity. We possess the deepest breadth of potential when we acknowledge, witness and bring agency to our creativity selves.

What advice would you give to current students or to young people thinking of pursuing a Fine Arts degree?

Two things. 1. Follow your heart. It’s not easy, but if you’re interested in the field, follow that and work hard. 2. The greatest resource in any department are the faculty. Go to them and make relationships. They’re educators because they want to help you. Along the way you’ll make connections that will have a real impact on you.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes, I met my husband at URI. He was a studio major and I was an art history major. Thirty seven years later, URI was the right place for us, and many others.