Gretchen Houk

Gretchen Houk is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of General Education at Pacific Oaks College, with teaching locations in Pasadena and online. Her academic and professional career is deeply rooted in art education, spanning public high school instruction, elementary school visiting artist programs, and community-based senior art classes.

Her educational background includes:

• BFA from Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
• Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach, CA
• MFA in Art Education from Boston University, Boston, MA

Gretchen's research and teaching interests center around accessible art education, believing that anyone can learn to create art. Her work emphasizes experiential learning, creative expression, and curriculum development for diverse age groups. She has particular expertise in K–12 education and integrating hands-on artistic practices into learning environments.

Her professional engagement includes membership in key art education organizations such as the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, National Art Education Association, and California Art Education Association. She also contributes to her local community as a Board Member of Cottage Co-op Nursery School.

She is currently establishing a ceramics studio to further her personal artistic practice and potentially offer private instruction. Her creative energy extends to surface design, knitting, mural painting, and other multidisciplinary projects.

Gretchen values the transformative 'Aha! Moment' in students and sees art as a powerful medium for personal and intellectual growth. She continues to balance teaching, artistic creation, and educational leadership in both academic and community settings.