Faculty Profile: Charla Gaglio

When describing Charla Gaglio, Chair of the visual arts department, one could apply the definition of a Renaissance woman: “someone who is interested in and knows a lot about many things.” With formal degrees in fine art, fibers, and arts in education, she is a working artist who teaches studio art and art history as well as women’s studies and world religions; both of which she strongly advocated for as additions to the curriculum. 

“I pushed for women’s studies because I just felt that young women need to have an understanding of what’s going on in the world,” she says. “And I also always felt that art history is all about cultures, and religion is a huge part of that. Religion is one of the motivating factors in the creation of art and architecture.”

She joined the Shorecrest community after being interviewed by Janet G. Root H’16, [former Chair of the arts and humanities department], 24 years ago. “I came from a time generationally when you wanted to build something and be a part of it, and Janet said, ‘There’s room here to grow something.’” 

Charla continually looks for ways to strengthen not only her program, but others as well. She was on the original board for the creation of the Global Scholars Initiative, for which she serves as an advisor. She also recently proposed teaching a new course on the business of art for the Ross Roeder Institute, where she could speak from experience about creating art as a profession. 

She looks at teaching art as a symbiotic relationship in which the students keep her grounded, and she’s able to share her experience with them. “I think working with kids is really fascinating. I really enjoy that interaction, and I like to see the light bulbs going off. I like getting people to like things that seem to be less important in the world right now.”

Many of Charla’s relationships with students have continued beyond Shorecrest; and she especially values a yearly catch-up session with a group of students she taught from seventh through twelfth grades. “I spend my school breaks having coffee dates with my kids. That’s the thing about Shorecrest – it stops being a job. It’s just your life.”

Casey Giroud '02, who is now the School's MS/US Media & Instructional Technology Specialist, is one of many alumni who acknowledge Charla’s impact. “She is the teacher who opened my eyes to a new world of history and beauty with the study of art. Her passion for the creative world radiates from her lessons and lectures, imparting wisdom and inspiration to her students. She has the unique ability to see the talents of each student and help students identify those talents within themselves; and she’s taken the Shorecrest art community to unimaginable heights.”

When asked if there was anything about her that would surprise people, Charla laughs and says, “I’m pretty much an open book. What you see is what you get.” After a pause, she adds, “I rode motorcycles as a teenager.” One more interesting side to this artistic Renaissance woman.