The Center Awards: Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award: Eric Kunsman - Rochester Institute of Technology

The Center Awards: Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award: Eric Kunsman – Rochester Institute of Technology by Aline SmithsonMay 25, 2025

©Eric Kunsman, . Unknown Number, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA

ABOUT THE CALLANAN EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD: Established in 1998, the annual Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award honors a high school, college, or postgraduate teacher’s dedication and commitment to their students and the photographic field. Educators in all areas of photographic teaching are eligible, including but not limited to fine art, documentary, history and criticism. EDUCATORS MUST POSSESS • A genuine passion for teaching, an ability to excite students to learn, respect for students as individuals and an enduring artistic curiosity.

Congratulations to Eric T. Kunsman – Assistant Professor, Visual Communications Studies Department, National Technical Institute for the Deaf and Adjunct Professor for the School of Photographic Arts & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), for receiving the Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award. His project, Life-Lines Throughout the United States is a topographic survey of payphones as social markers throughout the United States, along with interactive census data to help visualize the socioeconomic relationship between the individual photograph and each location.

The award package includes $5,000 USD, Review Santa Fe invitation – tuition not included, and Professional Development Seminars access.

JUROR (PREVIOUS YEAR’S WINNER): KATHLEEN SANKER • Artist, Photographer and Professor of Art, St. Charles Community College, St. Louis, MO shares her thoughts on the award:

As the 2024 recipient of the Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award, it is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to assess this year’s nominations. This award honors educators who transcend technical mastery to nurture intellectual and creative growth—individuals who embody a rare alchemy of expertise, patience, humility, and unwavering belief in human potential. These educators ignite curiosity while forging enduring connections that reshape lives. At its core, teaching is an act of radical generosity, demanding boundless selflessness and a commitment to meet students where they are, particularly in an era where empathy often feels imperiled. In such times, educators like this year’s nominees serve not merely as instructors but as cultural custodians, safeguarding the vital link between knowledge and humanity. Each nominee deserves recognition for their dedication, and the letters submitted on their behalf stand as testaments to hope’s enduring presence in education.

As a past recipient, the product of two generations of educators, and a lifelong teacher myself, I hold a conviction shaped by my mentors: transformative teaching arises not from curriculum alone but from moments when an educator’s ethos fundamentally alters a student’s understanding of possibility. I have witnessed how a single educator can irrevocably reshape a student’s trajectory—not through instruction alone, but by recognizing and affirming their inherent worth. Reviewing this year’s nominations reaffirmed this truth, with Eric Kunsman’s dossier emerging as a masterclass in pedagogical devotion.

Kunsman’s nomination materials reveal a career defined by transformative impact, aligning seamlessly with the Callanan Award’s criteria of passion, inspiration, respect, and artistic curiosity. The letters in his support paint a portrait of a teacher who invests not only in skills but in people—whether by learning American Sign Language to bridge communication barriers, funding thesis exhibitions during a pandemic, or transforming his personal studio into a sanctuary for experimentation. These acts transcend generosity; they reflect a profound understanding of education as a covenant that persists long after a semester concludes. While many nominees demonstrated admirable dedication, Kunsman’s submissions revealed a consistent pattern of mentorship, both within and beyond the classroom, cementing his status as a standard-bearer for the award’s ideals.

His students and colleagues articulated his impact with striking clarity, describing an educator who elevates technical instruction to nurture whole artists—individuals equipped with resilience, confidence, and lifelong passion. As one nominee observed, “Eric doesn’t just teach printing; he teaches us how to see, to persist, and to believe in our voice.” Below, I distill the qualities that distinguish him as an exceptional candidate, alongside notable reflections from his nominators.

JUROR BIO: Kathleen Sanker is a distinguished, award-winning Professor of Art at Saint Charles Community College, where she has devoted over two decades to helping students expand their creative life experiences and artistic toolboxes. A photographer by trade initially, Sanker has spent a significant portion of her tenure she working as the Graphic Design Chair, revitalizing an antiquated program, infusing it with innovative energy and discovery. Her exceptional teaching has won her a post-graduate fellowship at Washington University (2001), the prestigious Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award (2016), as well as the Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award from CENTER Santa Fe (2024). Her academic credentials include an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis and a BFA from the University of Missouri–Columbia.

Having been commissioned as part of a year-long, collaborative artistic initiative, Kathleen’s work played a key role in marking the centennial milestone of the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries in Saint Louis, MO. Her work enjoys a wide audience across various platforms, having been showcased by esteemed galleries such as the Sheldon Art Galleries, Ellen Curlee, A Smith Gallery, Woman Made, and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. As an invited visiting artist, critic, juror, and board advisor, Kathleen has enriched many institutions with her experience and expertise, including the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, the University of Missouri – Columbia, and the Foundry Art Centre among others. Her work has earned the honor of being held in numerous private and public collections, spreading its influence nationwide. She carries her deep commitment to the visual arts and photographic community further as a long-standing member of the Society for Photographic Education. She also is a member of AIGA.

Kathleen’s artistic journey began in early youth with a simple Kodak Instamatic camera, a gift which has proven to be a life-changing instrument for collecting and telling stories as well as witnessing others and examining our shared humanity. Kathleen can often be found immersing herself in the creative process – in her studio, in her classroom, or in her domestic life—creating resonates in every corner of her life.

Portrait of Eric Kunsman

Ability to Excite Students to Learn –

Eric transforms technical subjects into engaging, career-defining experiences. Students describe his classes as “the most valuable” of their academic journeys, with lessons that “instill new philosophies of image-making”. His innovative workshops—such as kallatype printing and community-focused projects like free family portraits for underserved populations—ignite curiosity. One student recalled, “There was never a day where I felt bored or unproductive”, emphasizing his talent for making complex processes like color correction and ICC profiling accessible.

Kunsman in the classroom ©Meredith Davenport

Respect for Students as Individuals. –

Eric’s respect manifests in tailored support:

Financial Sensitivity:

He worked individually with students to find affordable printing materials, leaving a lasting impression of empathy. This nominator emphasized Kunsman’s practical empathy, noting how he tailored solutions for students struggling with printing-material costs. His actions ensured accessibility without stigma, reflecting a deep understanding of socioeconomic barriers.

“He sat down individually with each student and helped them form a plan that fit their financial needs. . . . He is the type of professor who goes truly above and beyond for his students, and truly cares about the quality of their education.”

—Former Student, Rochester Institute of Technology

Accessibility Advocacy:

He learned American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate directly with deaf students, a rarity among faculty.

“Prior to [teaching at NTID], he did not know how to sign, a necessity for communicating with his deaf students. He quickly became fluent in American Sign Language; none of my other professors ever bothered to learn how to sign, despite the large population of deaf students.”

—Student, NTID/RIT

Classroom

Mentorship Beyond Graduation:

Alumni cites Kunsman’s enduring guidance and mentorship during a personal setback. His advice transcended technical instruction, fostering emotional resilience and self-worth.

“Rather than letting me get upset, Eric immediately printed a stack of over a hundred opportunities to apply for. He told me, ‘For every rejection, apply to two other opportunities that same day.’”

—Graduate Student & Current Educator

Assessing Print Sizes

Enduring Artistic Curiosity

A working artist and master printer, Eric bridges historical and modern techniques. He co-authored *Both Sides of the Table: Photography Portfolio Do’s and Don’ts* to democratize industry knowledge and explores niche methods like kallatype printing. Students describe his teaching as *“a gateway to areas I never knew existed”, highlighting his integration of professional practice into coursework. His studio becomes a hub for experimentation, where he mentors students and alum in bookbinding, alternative processes, and even social documentary projects.

Classroom

Other Notable Testimonials

His philosophy—“talk with them, not down to them”—cultivates a collaborative environment where students feel valued as equals.

“He treats students as colleagues, not subordinates”, fostering mutual respect.

“Eric’s teachings are carried into my own classroom”, showcasing his ripple effect on education.

Conclusion

Eric Kunsman embodies the spirit of the Callanan Award. His passion, creativity, and student-first ethos have redefined success for countless photographers and educators. By dismantling barriers—financial, technical, and communicative—he ensures every student thrives. As one nominee succinctly stated: “Eric doesn’t just deserve this award—he embodies it”. It is with profound enthusiasm that I choose Eric Kunsman for this honor. – Sincerely, Kathleen M. Sanker, 2024 Callanan Teaching Award Recipient, Professor of Art

Classroom

Life-Lines throughout the United States

This body of work is a companion series to my project, “Felicific Calculus: Technology as a Social Marker of Race, Class, & Economics in Rochester, NY,” to demonstrate how communities throughout the United States face the same dire situation. Throughout the United States, many individuals are being left behind by technology, whether that is for communication or Internet access. Our society has become one in which you must have access to these tools to be provided support services and a job, or you are left behind, widening the gap between the lower and middle classes.

Often, this outdated technology is also used to label individuals or areas of a community where they can be found as social markers without further knowledge. The individuals I have met who still rely on payphones have stated, “I hate how people look at me like I am doing something wrong when I am using the payphone.” Those individuals have explained that they are typically calling their families to check in or for support.

My work aims to raise the following questions: how do we ensure access to basic needs for a sustainable community, such as communication, shelter, and food, without labeling those relying on support? Why has the United Kingdom decided to save their iconic payphones, convert them to digital ones, and install other emergency necessities such as defibrillators in the red booths? Once the payphones are gone, how will we communicate in a natural disaster similar to Hurricane Katrina & Sandy? The payphone may be a symbol of a different era. Still, we must remember how we use technology as a social marker and often forget those individuals who cannot keep up with fundamental technological advancements.

PROJECT AND MEDIUM INFORMATION: Kodak Portra 120 film printed at three sizes 20″x20″, 30″x30″ & 40″x40″ utilizing Archival Pigment

©Eric Kunsman, 323.469.6670– Applied Scholastics Hollywood, 6336 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Eric T. Kunsman (b. 1975) was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. While in high school, he was heavily influenced by the death of the steel industry and its place in American history. The exposure to the work of Walker Evans during this time hooked Eric onto photography. Eric had the privilege to study under Lou Draper, who became Eric’s most formative mentor. He credits Lou with influencing his approach as an educator, photographer, and contributing human being.

Eric holds his MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and holds an MS in Electronic Publishing/Graphic Arts Media, BS in Biomedical Photography, BFA in Fine Art photography, all from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

Currently, he is a photographer and book artist based out of Rochester, New York. Eric works at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) as an Assistant Professor in the Visual Communications Studies Department at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and is an adjunct professor for the School of Photographic Arts & Sciences.

In addition to lectures, he provides workshops on topics including his artistic practice, digital printing, and digital workflow processes. He provided industry seminars for the highly regarded Printing Applications Lab at RIT. His photographs and books are exhibited internationally and are in several collections. He currently owns Booksmart Studio, which is a fine art digital printing studio specializing in numerous techniques and services for photographers and book artists on a collaborative basis.

Eric is a 2024 JGS Fellowship for Photography Recipient from The New York Foundation for the Arts. His work has been exhibited in over 35 solo exhibitions at such venues as Nicolaysen Art Museum, Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, and numerous university galleries. His work has also been a part of over 150 group exhibitions over the past four years, including exhibitions at the Center for Photography, A. Smith Gallery, SPIVA, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Spartanburg Museum of Art, Atlanta Photography Group, CEPA Gallery, Site: Brooklyn, Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, and many more.

Eric was named one of 10 B&W photographers to watch of 2018 by BWGallerist; B&W Best Photographers of the Year 2019 by Dodho Magazine; won the Association of Photography (UK) Gold Award for Open Series in 2019; Finalist, Top 200 Critical Mass 2019, 2020, 2021; Top 15 Photographers for the Rust Belt Biennial; and Lensculture B&W Jurors’ Pick 2021. His Project Felicific Calculus was also awarded a Warhol Foundations Grant through CEPA Gallery in Buffalo, NY. Eric’s work has also been published in magazines such as; Bloomberg Businessweek, LensWork, Dodho, B&W Photography, Analog Explorations, All About Photo, Black+White Photography (UK), Dek Unu, along with online articles by Analog Forever Magazine, Catalyst: Interview, Texas Photo Society, and others.

Instagram: @eric_kunsman