Meet Honors Alum Carolyn Hazel Drake

Carolyn Hazel Drake is a Portland State Honors College alum from the class of 2005. As an undergraduate, she studied English Literature and Architecture, and later receive her Master’s degree in Art Education. As a child, she was obsessed with books, and is a self-described bookworm. Since she was young, she always knew she wanted a career that was hands-on, away from sitting behind a desk all day on a computer. In the beginning of her career, she was a high school art teacher. She found joy in this as she felt as if she was making the world a better place by granting young minds a creative outlet. Ms. Drake comes from a blue collar background, and was the first person in her family to attend university. Becoming a teacher was a career that was both stable and creatively fulfilling. Ms. Drake is now an Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Art at Arizona State University.

Recently, Ms. Drake became a recipient of the Teaching Artist Cohort Grant, from The Center for Craft, based in Nashville, North Carolina. The Center is an organization that focuses on art practice, funding research, and other artistic endeavors. The Teaching Artist Cohort Grant is specifically for artists who teach. Ms. Drake plans on using the grant to travel to Iceland and study textiles, and is also currently utilizing some of the grant to do projects within the Arcosanti Archives, a historical and architectural site in Arizona. The grant has allowed Ms. Drake to pursue professional development projects that she otherwise would not be able to pursue.

In regards to post-graduate life, Ms. Drake says that you get out of it what you put into it. She believes that showing up fully for everything that you do is an important skill that can help regardless of what you pursue. In short, Ms. Drake lives by “putting in the work and playing the long game”. It is important to work hard because that determination or grit can be an important life-long asset.

One of Ms. Drake’s fondest memories within her time at the Honors College would be her internship in Washington D.C. During her time at the capitol, Ms. Drake worked at the Smithsonian Museum. She was surrounded by individuals who were as equally determined as she was, and she described the experience as incredibly motivating. She met incredible friends during the program who she still speaks fondly on to this day. While at the Smithsonian, she did archival work, similar to what she does now at Arcosanti. She now often works with museums to create curricular content for students. This early exposure to the type of professional work she would be doing later in life felt like a dream come true. When reflecting on this, she said, “My internship within the Honors College deeply impacted my professional life in a really powerful way”. Her internship as an undergraduate student proved to herself that she was able to accomplish great things. The ability to work alongside professionals within her desired careers lit a fire in her eyes as she was able to get a glimpse of what could lie ahead. Ms. Drake was able to build her professional skills and create meaningful connections and memories that will stay with her for the rest of her life.