By Ibec Francis 

This fall, the Fine Arts building has welcomed two new faces who bring fresh energy, creativity, and passion to the classrooms: Professor James Reiman and Professor Tijuana M. Vasquez.  

Both artists and educators come to Valdosta State University with unique journeys that led them back to the place where creativity thrives. 

 Reiman, a photographer and designer who has worked everywhere from darkrooms to film sets, is excited to reopen VSU’s darkroom and explore how traditional and digital tools. Including technologies like AI can expand artistic expression. 

 Vasquez, a proud VSU alumna from Cairo, Georgia, describes her return as a “full-circle moment,” teaching in the very studio where she once sat as an undergraduate.  

Together, they embody the university’s commitment to nurturing both artistic skill and imaginative exploration, inspiring students to find their own creative voices. 

Professor James Reiman has always considered himself an artist, no matter what the medium.  

His academic journey began at Central Washington University, where his enthusiasm for photography was noticed by Professor Stephen Chalmers, who offered him a work-study position as a darkroom and digital lab technician. 

 That opportunity not only sharpened his technical skills but also sparked his passion for teaching. Encouraged to continue his studies, he went on to earn his M.A. at the University of South Florida, where he taught his first classes independently. 

Since graduating in 2009, Reiman’s creative path has been as diverse as it has been fulfilling. He worked as  a photographer, designer, caricature artist, and filmmaker, while teaching at several institutions including USF, The Art Institute of Tampa, Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, and Red Rocks Community College.  

Along the way, he has collaborated with actors, models, professional wrestlers, and other creatives. When the opportunity at VSU opened, it immediately felt like the right fit. 

“When I came across the position at VSU, it truly felt like it had been written with someone like me in mind,” said Reiman. 

This semester, Reiman teaches 2-D Design, Computers in Art, and Black and White Photography. He guides students through a wide spectrum of artmaking, from traditional drawing and printmaking to digital design, video, augmented reality, and even artificial intelligence.  

One of his proudest contributions has been reopening VSU’s darkroom, allowing students to experience the magic of film photography. 

“Watching a silver print come to life in the developer tray for the first time is unforgettable,” he said.  

Outside the classroom, he continues to explore his own creative practice, preparing to relaunch his Focus Stacked Podcast, where he interviews photographers about their careers, while also developing new projects and client work. 

Reiman’s love for art began when he shifted from painting and drawing into photography and digital imaging, fascinated by how it combined his love of art and science. 

By the late nineties, he was already experimenting with Photoshop, and that curiosity about digital tools continues to drive his work today. Reiman is especially interested in how AI can expand, rather than replace, creativity. 

Beyond academia, his passions remain wide-ranging, and he is a lifelong comic book and action figure enthusiast, a lover of the outdoors who recently hiked two Colorado 14ers, and an adventurer excited to explore Georgia’s waterways. At home, he values family time and life with his Irish Wolfhound, Willow. 

For Professor Tijuana M. Vasquez, teaching at VSU is a full-circle moment. Born and raised in Cairo, GA, home of the Syrupmakers, Vasquez was a first-generation college student who chose Valdosta State for her undergraduate studies. 

She earned her B.A. in Art Education here before pursuing a Master of Arts at Pennsylvania Western University and is now completing her Ed.D. Returning to VSU as a faculty member has been deeply meaningful. “The very studio class I currently teach my classes out of, I once sat in as an undergraduate,” she said. “I love being a Blazer again.”

As a lecturer in Art Education, Vasquez teaches a wide variety of courses, including Intro to the Visual Arts, Creative Inquiry, Secondary Methods, Community Art Education, Art Education Seminar, and Student Teaching in Art Ed.  

Her expertise comes from more than a decade of classroom experience, and she is passionate about inspiring her students.  

“I’m very committed to fostering a supportive learning environment where students can explore their creativity, develop technical skills, and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts,” said Vasquez. 

Her path to art education began with a simple suggestion. As a high-school senior unsure of what to study, her art teacher asked if she had ever considered becoming an art teacher herself. Believing she would be good at it, he encouraged her to give it a try and she never looked back. Today, she channels that encouragement into her own teaching, guiding students who may be discovering their passions for the first time. 

Outside of work, Vasquez enjoys playing tennis, experimenting with makeup, going to concerts, and trying new foods. She lives by the words of Jean-Michel Basquiat: “It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.” 

Together, Professors Reiman and Vasquez embody the spirit of creativity at VSU, each bringing a unique journey, passion, and energy to the classroom. 

 Their stories remind students that art is not only about technique but also about curiosity, courage, and finding one’s voice.