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Academic Metals Directory · program

San Diego State University

university art department · Active
last checked 2026-05-29

As archived

Degrees
B.A, M.A, M.F.A

Now (checked 2026)

Status
Active

What happened
Continuation with leadership succession. The program was founded by Arline Fisch (faculty 1961-2000) and long led by Helen Shirk (1975-2010). Sondra Sherman succeeded Shirk as head of jewelry/metalwork in 2010 and continues to run it. Since ~2014 the program has remained active and respected with a working metalsmithing studio (4th floor of the art building). In 2024 Arline Fisch died (SDSU published an in memoriam). In 2026 the School of Art and Design named Matthew Hebert as director and announced a degree restructuring effective Fall 2026: the previous separate emphasis areas (including jewelry/metalwork) become integrated specialties within a single flexible BA in Studio Art; jewelry and metalwork explicitly continues as one of those specialties. No closure, merger-away, or rename of the metals discipline itself.

Link
art.sdsu.edu/

People

Faculty
Arlene Fisch · 1961 to presentBillie Jean Theide · 1982 to 1983David La Plantz · 1970 to 1971Gene Pijanowski ? To ?Harlan Butt · 1975 to 1976Helen Shirk · 1975 to presentSvetovar Radakovich · 1958 to 1959

Trained here

Charlene ModenaLisa LinhardtMarcia LewisPatty SmithRandy J. LongRyan Send

Sources

https://art.sdsu.edu/programs/applied-design-emphasis/specialization-in-jewelry-and-metalsmithing/https://art.sdsu.edu/faculty-staff/sherman-sondrahttps://psfa.sdsu.edu/news/2026/what-changes-in-sdsu-art-and-design-degrees-mean-for-studentshttps://psfa.sdsu.edu/news/2026/sdsu-names-matthew-hebert-director-of-the-school-of-art-and-designhttps://art.sdsu.edu/graduate-programhttps://psfa.sdsu.edu/news/2024/in-memoriam-arline-fischhttps://snagmetalsmith.org/2017/04/2017-laa-helen-shirk/

From the original Tyler “Academic Metals Directory” (≈2014), brought current in 2026.

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