Skip to Content

Grace Guevara Receives the 2023 Staff Excellence Award

September 22, 2023
Headshot of Grace Guevara outside the Stamps building .

A Stamps alum is the recipient of the 2023 Brian Banks Staff Excellence Award.

Grace Guevara, the Exhibition, Installation and Special Project Coordinator at the Stamps School of Art and Design, was chosen after her nomination by other staff members. This prestigious award is given annually to a current staff member who exemplifies Brian Banks’ commitment and dedication to the Stamps School community. The award is given annually and carries with it a $1,000 cash award for the recipient.

“It is exciting to receive the award,” said Guevara. ​“It’s nice because I was here when Brian was here. He was a big part of the advising team when I was a student, so it helps me still feel connected to him and his impact on my time at Stamps. It’s nice to be recognized for all that time and effort. It feels validating that my work is important and supporting the school.”

Guevara’s journey at Stamps School began as a student. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at Stamps in 2018, with a concentration in jewelry design, where she worked extensively with metals and fiber in her final project. 

During her time as a student, Guevara held various positions, including working at the Dean’s Office front desk, handling mail delivery services, and at the Slusser Gallery before joining the Stamps Gallery when it opened downtown. This is where she honed her programming, exhibitions, and installation skills. In the spring of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she began working as a part-time facilities assistant and was eventually promoted to a full-time position. 

One of Guevara’s favorite aspects of her job is working with students. ​“I thoroughly enjoy working with students on their art installations. I like to be a creative problem solver and help people work through their vision and their skills,” said Guevara.

Guevara particularly cherishes her involvement in the Senior Integrated Project Exhibition. ​“Four years of work are realized, and they put so much time and energy into it. Working with the students and helping them learn how to do installations using a drill or other tools is so much fun. It’s the small things that matter and can make a difference in an exhibition,” she said. 

Guevara emphasized the importance of recognizing staff members at Stamps, saying, ​“We all work collaboratively to realize the dreams of our community.”