Heather Nunez-Olmstead, PhD

Trauma-informed teaching and learning is more than a philosophy for Heather Nunez-Olmstead, PhD — it’s a way to unlock potential and create spaces where students can truly thrive.

With a career rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) and creativity development, Dr. Nunez-Olmstead has built her teaching approach on compassionate inclusivity. Her extensive certifications in SEL and Yoga Facilitation, Mental Health First Aid, and Non-Violent Communication (NVC) equip her with the tools to meet students where they are and help them grow, no matter their circumstances.

Over the years, Dr. Nunez-Olmstead has worked with a wide range of learners, from preschoolers taking their first steps in self-expression to older adults finding new creative outlets later in life. While she’s experienced in both traditional K–12 and alternative education contexts, her passion lies in one mission: “connecting at-risk youth with learning and healing opportunities through the arts.” Her work bridges the gap between creativity and resilience, showing how art can be a lifeline for those who need it most.

Now, as an instructor at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D), Dr. Nunez-Olmstead is bringing her expertise to a broader audience through the college’s new online graduate programs in arts education. These programs, designed specifically for art educators, open up opportunities for professional growth in ways that traditional formats can’t.

“I’m really excited about the new online offering because we’ll get to reach people where they are,” she explains. “Currently, there’s a whole audience of art teachers out there that may be looking for professional development that are place-bound because they’re teaching in their schools, or they’re unable to get to Portland. This is an awesome opportunity to reach those teachers in whatever context they’re in.”

MECA&D’s programs stand out for their focus on art education — a rarity among online graduate offerings. “There’s a lot of programming out there to get your master’s in education, online. But what’s very few is a chance to learn with all of these professional artists and art educators, with years of experience and all these different specialties in art education specifically. I think that’s what makes this special,” says Dr. Nunez-Olmstead.

One of her courses, focused on trauma-informed education, is deeply personal to her. “I’m teaching a course on trauma-informed education in the classroom, which is a subject that’s near and dear to my heart,” she says.

Early in her career, Dr. Nunez-Olmstead worked with students who had experienced significant trauma, using the arts as a way to help them reengage with learning. “When I first started teaching, I quickly transitioned into specializing in alternative education at the secondary school level and working with students who had undergone a lot of trauma. So basically, on top of the arts programming, I used arts-integrated methods to help them be okay enough to learn even across other subject areas.”

For art educators, she believes trauma-informed strategies are particularly essential. “One of the reasons I think we have the unique ability as art teachers to teach in a trauma-informed manner is because 1/3 of our students are going to come to us with some level of trauma,” she explains. “Learning strategies to not completely shift our entire curriculum but change our teaching philosophy and our classroom management strategies to meet those students where they are is so beneficial. Not only for those students experiencing individual instances of trauma or complex trauma but really for the entire class.”

Beyond her course, online learning at MECA&D equips graduates with skills that set them apart in their careers. “I think that this program will set up graduates for success in a couple of ways,” she says. “If they’re in a traditional teaching context, they’ll be able to utilize the master’s degree and the certificates, if they choose to pursue a certificate, to move on to their next tier of professional development in a way that really recognizes art education specifically.”

Equally valuable is the sense of community the program fosters. “Plus, they’ll get to know other teachers and like-minded educators across contexts from across the country and potentially even across the world. And that networking opportunity is something that Maine College of Art & Design specializes in, and it’s something that I think really sets this program apart.”

Dr. Nunez-Olmstead’s work is a testament to the transformative power of art education. Through her teaching, she empowers educators to create classrooms that are not only spaces for learning but also for healing and growth. By joining MECA&D’s online program, she’s helping to shape a future where art educators are better prepared to meet their students’ needs and make lasting impacts in their communities.

Maine College of Art & Design offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education, Graduate Certificate in Expressive Art Therapy, and Graduate Certificate in Arts Leadership and Administration. To learn more about personal and professional development opportunities in art education, get in touch with us today.