John Shaak

I taught a variety of courses in the departments of Art History, Design, Arts Education, and in the University Honors Program under the direction of its founder, Dr. Roberta Markman. Among the many memorable experiences was being promoted from Associate to Full Professor at age 38 and receiving thoughtfully written responses from President Steve Horn to my detailed sabbatical leave follow-up reports.

I moved to California in 1958 and worked in Long Beach from 1958 - 1960. During that time I became aware of the outstanding School of Art at CSU Long Beach. It became an objective of mine to one day teach on the CSULB campus. In 1960 I moved to New York to begin work on a doctorate at Columbia University. Returning to Long Beach, I became a member of the faculty in 1962.

I stay in contact with Neill Slaughter with whom I shared an office at CSULB. Neill moved on to teach drawing and painting at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles before accepting a tenured position at Long Island University in New York. He is also now retired.

Since retirement I have continued my interests in photography and travel. I have returned to France, Germany, England, Burma/Myanmar, Japan and Thailand; and have discovered Laos and Vietnam for the first time. I have digitized thousands of 35mm slides from my personal collection and continue to create slide programs that capture the essence of my travel experiences over the years.

I maintain interest in and support various art museums, opera companies, and symphony orchestras in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as Keyboard Studies at The Bob Cole Conservatory on campus.

Invigorating!