The Arizona Arts Excellence Award recognizes an undergraduate student, graduate student, staff, and faculty who use their research, creative activity, leadership, and service to make a difference at the University of Arizona and drive change in the world.
This year the 2025 Arizona Arts Excellence Award recipients are:
- Chloe Riley, School of Art … Undergraduate
- Gina Del Pino, School of Art … Graduate
- Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum, School of Music … Faculty
- Dr. Kimberly Mast, School of Art … Staff
The faculty and staff honorees were presented their awards at the Arizona Arts Fall Convocation on Aug. 21. Arizona Arts will recognized the student recipients at the Arizona Arts Fall Showcase Oct. 10 at 6p in Crowder Hall.
Chloe Riley, Undergraduate, School of Art
Chloe Riley is a thoughtful and passionate leader who has made a profound impact on the University of Arizona’s cultural life.
A Tucson native with African American roots in New Orleans, Riley is a senior majoring in fine arts with an emphasis in drawing and painting at the School of Art. As president of the Sienna Collective, she expanded programming to include exhibitions, artist talks and workshops that center diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
“Through the Sienna Collective, she has created a welcoming space for students of color in the arts, encouraging creative expression, collaboration, and mentorship,” said her nominator, Dylan Hawkinson, MFA student and Sienna Collective co-president.
Adjunct Professor Jonathan Marquis and Assistant Professor Alex Macias also nominated Riley.
“Chloe consistently exemplifies the academic excellence, artistic innovation and community engagement qualities this award seeks to recognize,” Marquis and Macias said.
In addition, Riley serves as a chaplain of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first African American sorority, which has promoted community service for more than a century.
For her final year, Riley plans to continue developing these themes, experimenting with other mediums, and preparing for graduation.
“To be considered and thought of as a person who helps and provides for the arts and arts community is an award in itself. I am forever grateful,” Riley said.
Gia Del Pino, Graduate, School of Art
Gia Del Pino is a visionary thinker at the College of Fine Arts. A fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Arts and Visual Culture Education at the School of Art, she is known for her intellectual depth, community advocacy and collaborative spirit.
Del Pino represented Arizona Arts as a moderator at the Photography Network Symposium, where she skillfully connected critical academic discourse with the lived realities of border communities — demonstrating how student voices can lead national conversations.
She worked as a marketing specialist for the Center for Creative Photography (CCP), where she helped promote Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva. Her contributions helped attract more than 8,500 visitors and increase social media engagement by 30%.
Denisse Brito, CCP’s learning and engagement manager, nominated Del Pino. Brito said that Del Pino assisted in shaping public perception of the institution as more inclusive, relevant and community centered.
“Gia’s voice is also deeply respected in institutional decision-making,” Brito said. “She served on the Arizona Arts Dean Search Committee, bringing thoughtful insight grounded in lived experience and community values,” Brito said.
One colleague summarized her impact: “What I admire most about Gia is how she moves between roles — artist, educator, organizer, student — with clarity and purpose. She is generous with her knowledge, deeply rooted in justice, and brings a grounded, collaborative spirit to every space she enters.”
Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum, Faculty, School of Music
Assistant Professor Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum joined the School of Music faculty in fall 2022. She serves as the director of the University of Arizona String Project and as affiliated faculty for Applied Intercultural Arts Research, GIDP.
“Her extraordinary efforts to forge new connections and sustain meaningful relationships with music teachers across the state have been reciprocally beneficial for the communities we serve and the university,” said her nominator, Dr. Philip Alejo, associate professor of music.
Nussbaum organized a professional development day for Tucson Unified School District music educators this past spring, along with 16 workshops at the Arizona Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival in spring 2024.
Her research explores institutional, structural and societal barriers that limit access to music education. She has presented her work at national and international conferences and published it in leading music education journals.
“I carry a deep sense of responsibility to the mission and values of public education, and I am proud to have my work in building bridges with Arizona K-12 music educators and students acknowledged by Arizona Arts,” Nussbaum said. “I believe that providing an entryway for any Arizona student seeking to continue their arts education at the U of A is integral to realizing our land-grant commitment.”
Dr. Kimberly Mast, Staff, School of Art
Since becoming director and curator of the Visual Resource Center in 2007, Dr. Kimberly Mast has transformed it into a vital resource supporting teaching and research across the School of Art.
Mast manages the center and has transformed it into a vital resource supporting teaching and research. She manages all aspects of the school’s visual media creation, use and storage. Mast also provides guidance in course design, research methods, digital tools and the organization of visual materials.
Dr. Irene Bald Romero, chair of the art history program, nominated Mast, on behalf of the division’s faculty.
“In every way, Dr. Kimberly Mast’s contributions to School of Art and Arizona Arts model the high standards and strong ethics expected of the recipient of the Arizona Arts Excellence Award,” Romero said. “Her efforts over many years have been incredibly effective, innovative, and generative, helping to build a stronger Arizona Arts and school community.”
Mast holds a Ph.D. in art history and education, an M.A. in art history with an emphasis on pre-Columbian and non-Western cultures, and an M.L.S. in information resources and library science. Her research interests focus on the intersection of art history, pedagogy and technology, particularly the use of new methodologies and materials in both in-person and online classrooms.
“It’s up to us all to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone here. When we listen to voices different from our own or look at works of art different from our own, the world becomes a richer and better place. I am happy I could contribute,” Mast said.