ASU Distinguished Alumni, Ralph Slatton

Online, May 8, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Slatton addressed this year's Awards Luncheon, consisting of faculty and honor students in the College of Fine Arts, held at ASU in the Grand Hall of the Fowler Center, on April 14th, 12:00 p.m. The areas of art, music, and theatre were honored at this event. Ralph Slatton is the returning alumni, having earned his degrees of BFA '81 and MA '86, from Arkansas State University.

Ralph Slatton was born in 1952 in an old farm community, surrounded by the cotton fields of Northeast Arkansas. His humble beginnings blossomed into a lifelong art career, after receiving degrees from Arkansas State University, and later earning his MFA from The University of Iowa School of Art and Art History. Slatton contributes much of his success to the exceptional faculty at Arkansas State, who gave him the tools to excel in the area of printmaking and drawing.

Immediately after graduation with the MFA, Slatton was offered two position, one as curator of the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, and the other as professor of art at East Tennessee State University. Slatton chose the latter position and has taught there since 1990. Throughout his career, he has served in many capacities, including: Department Chair, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Chairs Council, and Chair of the Faculty Council. Slatton achieved the rank of Full Professor in 2001. He was one of the recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Research Award for 2010. He currently teaches full time, as head of the printmaking program.