Phyllis received her MFA in Interdisciplinary Art at Goddard College in Vermont. She has lectured at Kuopio Academy of Design in Finland as well as being keynote speaker at Bi-Annual Conference of Weavers and Spinners, WASOON in Ontario. Phyllis has shown her work in New York, Michigan, Missouri, Canda, Minnesota, and more.

What students say about Phyllis:
Phyllis is energetic and engaging. She wants all of her students, regardless of the course, to be actively participating and learning. Phyllis pushes her students to learn what she feels is necessary while allowing them to explore their own interests and passions. Her gentle spirit and irrepressible personality are thoroughly enjoyed by her students.

Robert Grame received his Master of Fine Arts from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Robert has worked on numerous national and regional design activities that include the following organizations: National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Jentel Artist Residency Program, and U.S. National Parks Service.

What students say about Robert:
Robert has an "all business, no play" facade, but don't be fooled! Underneath his reserved exterior lies an acutely observant and caring professor. He is truly committed to getting to know the strengths and weaknesses of his individual students and pushes them to become better designers.

Rick Loduha is a designer whose professional experience spans product design, modular and renovation architecture, and sustainable systems design. Rick’s research focuses on inventive reuse design and waste stream resource reclamation. His work in this area has received international acclaim, including design awards for sustainable product design, interior architecture and reusable resource product design.

Rick is also co-director of Finlandia’s Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center (SKRC), an online and on-the-ground resource network. The SKRC is the home of the Keweenaw Green Map and the SKRC community room is located in the Jutila Center for Global Design and Business.

What students say about Rick:
Rick is a man committed to making the world a healthy, safe, and fair place through design. His passion for ushing in a new way of living is contagious. Don't be surprised if you leave his classroom with a different outlook on life, design, and ethics.

Denise received her master of fine arts in ceramics from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, and a bachelor of fine arts from Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan. She was invited to Oxford University, England, in July 2008, to present her research on fractal geometry and aesthetic preference. Denise produces art at her studio, Seven Cranes Pottery, located on an 80-acre Finnish homestead near Lake Superior.

What students say about Denise:
Denise makes time for all of her students at ISAD. She is always ready to fix a class schedule crisis or lend you books from her personal library. She is a sound board for seniors during their frantic, final year, and an enabler of study abroad dreams. Denise provides ample support for her students throughout their time at Finlandia.