HANNAH COOPER KILGORE

 

SUMMARY

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Artist, designer and educator dedicated to holistic and inclusive teaching in the fine arts, with a passion for fostering creativity, creating safe learning environments, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

 

EDUCATION

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University of South Carolina

                  Master of Arts in Teaching-Art Education (Expected Completion May 2027)

 

Young Harris College

                  BA in Graphic Design (May 2022)

                  BA in Fine Art (May 2022)

                  Minor in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (May 2022)

 

CERTIFICATIONS​

 

South Carolina Teaching Certificate (In-Progress, expected certification May 2027)

• Art Education K-12

 

EXPERIENCE

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Research Team Member | NEA Funded Research Project

“Implementation of a Professional Artists-led, Creative Youth Program-based, Visual Arts and Creative Writing Program for the Development of Social Emotional Characters of Urban Children”

February 2026-Present

• Working under the direction of Hyunji Kwon, PhD to observe weekly art and creative writing sessions taught by Teachers to afterschool program students aged 8-11

• Keeping detailed field notes about teacher’s practices, student engagement, and the classroom/learning environment

• Collaborating with other observer and teachers to collect qualitative data on student engagement and learning

 

Graduate Instructional Assistant: Young Artist's Workshop Coordinator | University of South Carolina

January 2026-Present

• Instructional assistant in a ARTS 103 Foundations of Art course

• Worked 10 hours a week assisting in class, preparing materials and taking attendance

• Helped facilitate critique and give student feedback

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Clinical Observer | Meadow Glen Elementary School

January 2026-April 2026

• Observing 30 hours of teaching with an elementary teacher of 15+ years, in a 4K-5th grade setting

• Assisting with passing out materials, cleaning art room, and providing support to students

• Taking detailed field notes on teacher practices, student engagement and learning environment for professional development purposes

Clinical Observer | Pleasant Hill Middle School

August 2025-December 2025

• Observed 30 hours of teaching with a middle school teacher in a choice-based, grades 6-8 art classroom

• Assisted with passing out materials, cleaning art room, and providing support to students

• Took detailed field notes on teacher practices, student engagement and learning environment for professional development purposes​

 

Graduate Instructional Assistant: Young Artist's Workshop Coordinator | University of South Carolina

August 2025-November 2025

• Program coordinator for area-wide after school art program of over 75 students, for ages 5-18

• Worked 10 hours per week in supervisory and support duties for undergraduate teachers during Friday afternoon art workshops

• Coordinated registration process, class roster building, materials collection and final exhibition planning for workshop

• Professional development training in teaching and mentoring undergraduates

 

Lead Teacher | The Goddard School of Berry Farms

August 2024-May 2025

• Developmentally appropriate lesson planning and curriculum implementation for toddler aged children

• Cultivating a supportive, engaging classroom environment that ensures children’s health, safety, and right to learn

• Working in collaboration with co-teacher, support staff and families to support student learning goals

 

Digital Marketing Specialist | Blue Vault

May 2023-August 2024

• Promoted Blue Vault services and events through daily email newsletters, webinars, and social media advertising

• Maintained an up to date, relevant digital presence via routine website updates and social media engagement

• Collected and organized data for analysis of ad engagement, website metrics and user interests

 

Graphic Designer & Copywriter | The VA Studio

November 2022-March 2023 (Contract ended)

• Managed social media platforms through posting and monitoring direct messages and comments for multiple clients

• Created static and video content, wrote captions, created blog posts, and sent weekly email newsletters for over 15 diverse clients

• Worked with a collaborate team to meet tight deadlines, often under strict client brand guidelines

• Collected client feedback on deliverables and utilized it to best revise and fine tune their content to meet their vision

 

Marketing Intern | Brown Haven Homes

January 2022-May 2022 (Spring Internship)

• Designed marketing materials for the corporate office of a custom home building company, such as social media graphics, video content and animations, and promotional flyers and stickers to be used company wide

• Worked under the supervision of the marketing director to plan content calendars for Facebook and Instagram

• Coordinated with project site managers and construction teams to schedule photoshoots of home projects; used DSLR camera to capture homes in line with best real estate photography practices

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

 

Robyn Chartier Crotwell Scholarship Recipient

University of South Carolina (2026-2027)

Graduate Instructional Assistantship Recipient

University of South Carolina (2025-2026)

Distinguished Undergraduate Research Scholar

Young Harris College (2022)

Undergraduate Research Day Presenter

Young Harris College (2022)

Richard Aunspaugh Outstanding Upperclassmen Art Major

Young Harris College (2022)

Birdie Bryan Miller Outstanding Freshman Art Major

Young Harris College (2019)

Art Scholarship Recipient

Young Harris College (2018-2022)

Honors Program Scholarship Recipient

Young Harris College (2018-2022)

 

OTHER VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

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• Juror for 2026 Annual NAHS & NJAHS Student Exhibitions (February 2026)

• Camp Counselor & Support Staff for Encore! Band Camps (June 2024 and June 2025)

• Judge for Georgia State 4-H Congress Arts & Crafts Category (July 2024)

• Brand Project Designer for Cupid Falls at Corn Creek Preserve (August 2021-May 2022)

• Executive Board Member for Phi Alpha Phi Sisterhood (August 2020-May 2022)

• Leadership Team for Underground Student Ministries (January 2019-May 2022)

• Youth Intern/Assistant for Briarwood Baptist Church (May 2019-August 2019)