Whether or not we realize it, the role that art plays in our everyday lives is a significant one. As Professor Rebecca Edwards would say, art is how humans exercise critical thinking and how we learn to solve problems -- which is precisely why she decided to fully immerse herself in the world of art both professionally and personally. Edwards has spent much of her time developing a close connection to the world of art. After receiving her Masters of Fine Arts degree from California State University of Los Angeles, she realized that she was destined to pursue the world of art both in her personal life and her professional one as well. Her interest in teaching was sparked by her time at the High School for the Arts right here in Los Angeles, and she gradually expanded the scope of her teaching to include some time at Cal State L.A. as a professor. She joined COC as a full-time faculty member approximately 12 years ago, having spent many years reaping the benefits of community college teaching at Ventura Community College, Bakersfield Community College, and Cal State L.A.

“I always knew that I wanted to go to art school,” she says. “I love combining the experiences of creating art and teaching it to my students.” Edwards has spent over a decade at COC as a professor, and she’s taught every level of art instruction from Beginning Drawing to Sculpture I and II. Needless to say, she’s well-versed in all that art has to offer for her students.

Undoubtedly, her favorite part of being a professor is the ability to talk about, make, and teach art — everything about her profession allows her to enjoy the benefits of such a fascinating and exploratory field. The most rewarding aspect along the way has been watching her students make their own breakthroughs and follow their own paths to success. "I want my students to know that they shouldn't feel limited by what they think they know," she advises. "It's okay to not know everything because it's important for them to figure things out and put all the pieces of their journeys together for themselves." As an avid traveler, Edwards hopes to experience far more of the world than she already has, though she's already racked up an impressive 25 countries in her history of wanderlust. She makes it a point to take a significant trip with her husband at least every other year so they can experience all that the world has for them.

When she ventures outside of the classroom, her love of art doesn’t miss a beat -- she’s a professional artist in just the same way that she’s a dedicated professor. She spends her free time at the pool, in the library, or in her studio, though it goes without saying that many of her days are allotted to creativity in the form of her own full-time art creation. “I just want everyone to know that, whether or not you’re an art major, understanding the basics of art will help you,” she shares emphatically. “Art is all about solving problems.”