A Salute to Joanna Pang Atkins & Her 30 Years of Service

Over the years, the students of our Arts in Education programs are led, taught, and inspired by our community of incredible teaching artists. It is our honor and pleasure to recognize a very special person among that group. 

Joanna Pang Atkins is an award-winning teaching artist who has been with Morris Arts for 30 years. In that time, she has led over 180 World Dance Residencies reaching over 21,000 students in the Morris Area. Those record-breaking numbers speak volumes about how deeply schools value her work.

Since she was a young girl, Joanna has traveled the world over, performing as an actress and dancer on stage, film, and television. It was a natural progression for her to bring those talents into her school program which celebrates cultures around the world through traditional dances. We love Joanna’s residencies because they celebrate diversity and inclusion and student of all ages and abilities participate fully.

As of June 2023, Joanna has officially retired. We’d like acknowledge her amazing contribution to arts in education and her passionate dedication to the students she has inspired over the years.

Congratulations Joanna, from all of us at Morris Arts. We wish you the very best.

WATCH to hear why Joanna loves being a teaching artist.