Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2017 BFA in Fine Art, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA | Magna Cum Laude
TEACHING EXPERIENCE — ACADEMIC
2023-2025 Adult Special Needs Art Instructor, Total Educational Activity Model, Riverside, CA
I had the pleasure of developing and revamping the art program for TEAM—designing a variety of art and craft activities tailored specifically for adults with special needs and disabilities. I ensure that I accommodate their individual needs while taking into account their specific conditions and behaviors. Through engaging activities and personalized guidance, each client had the opportunity to develop fine motor skills, express themselves creatively, improve their concentration, and enhance their active listening abilities.
2017-2022 High School Art Teacher, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, CA
Courses: Art I, Art 2, AP 2-D Art + Design, and Textile Design
Certified Apple Teacher
Art Club Moderator
TEACHING EXPERIENCE — COMMUNITY
2025 Plein Air Sketching Session with Yessenia Barron Reyes, Instructor, Ontario Museum of History & Art—Tongva and California Native Plant Gardens, Ontario, CA
Capture scenes from the Musuem’s Tongva and California Native Plant Gardens in a plain air (outdoor) sketching session with Yessenia Barron Reyes from the Ontario Open Exhibition. Plein air sketching is the practice of drawing or painting outdoors, allowing artists to observe and capture the natural environment in real time. In this session, you’ll learn techniques for sketching in an open-air setting while paying close attention to light, color, and form.
2022 Overflow Farms Mural, Instructor, Overflow Farms Community Garden, Riverside, CA
2021 Restoring the Statue of Mary, Instructor, Notre Dame High School Garden, Riverside, CA
2020 Notre Dame High School Crest Mural, Instructor, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, CA
2017 Eco-Printing Workshop, Instructor, Martha McLean—Anza Narrows Park, Riverside, CA
Join us for an eco-printing session with visual artist Yessenia Barron. Community members will enjoy exploring how to gather plant materials, learn about their life spans, and create beautiful prints on paper using natural specimens. The individual will also engage in cutting plants in an eco-friendly manner and remain mindful of the existing ecology in the area.
Project Bici: Stories from the Eastside with Artist Cynthia Herrera, Project Assistant, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
During Project Bici, I supported the artist in residence, Cynthia Herrera, in engaging with the East Side Riverside community by facilitating the use of a bicycle book “library”. I facilitated invitations to the community to document their family histories, community needs, and personal stories, while also capturing photographs throughout the project. I assisted the artist by attending workshop sessions, conducting surveys, aiding with setup and dismantling, documenting photographs, and maintaining detailed notes and observations.
2014 Drawing and Painting Garden Markers, Instructor, Arlanza Community Garden, Riverside, CA
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2016-2017 Arts 364A-Textile Dyeing, Research Assistant, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
As an undergraduate student, I assisted the professor with research on ecological printing and natural dyeing, utilizing both local and non-native plants, specifically eucalyptus specimens. I experimented with various methods to extract prints and dyes for fabric and paper—carefully noting each technique, ingredient, and material on a detailed template sheet I created. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn and contribute to sustainable art practices while also learning from my professor.
AWARDS
2020 Student Choice Award for Favorite Teacher, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, CA | Sylvan Learning
Spirit of our Lady, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, CA
2019 Innovator of the Month, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, CA
2017 Outstanding Senior of the Year Award, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
Annual Student Exhibition Best of Show Award, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
Bronze Award for Logo Design, American Advertising Federation, Riverside, CA
2013-2017 Atanas & Sasha Katchamakoff Scholarship, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
Eva Specht Memorial Scholarship, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
Mabel Earp-Cason Scholarship, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
The Broad Prize Scholarship, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA | The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Steve Thomas Photography Open, Chaffey Community Museum of Art, Ontario, CA
13th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition, Ontario Museum of History & Art, Ontario, CA
40th Annual Made in California Exhibition, Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
2024 Alumni Exhibition, Brandstater Gallery, Riverside, CA
Our Common Ground, The Little Gallery of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA
2017 Habitation—Senior Show Exhibition, Brandstater Gallery, Riverside, CA
2016 Artists’ Book Cornucopia VII, Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO
DONATIONS
2025 Propagate—Your Thoughts, The Garcia Center for the Arts Library, San Bernardino, CA | IE Print & Zine Fest
ARTIST TALKS, ETC
2021 Visiting Artist Talk: Preparing a Summer Play Proposal, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
2017 Annual High School & Academy Student Show Guest Jury, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
SELECTED PRESS
Rich DuBose, “Restorative Art: An interview with Yessenia Barron about her art and mission.” InSpire, April 19, 2017. https://adventistsocietyforthearts.org/restorative-art/