Christopher Schneberger Named College Of DuPage College-Wide Outstanding Adjunct Faculty

Christopher Schneberger, part-time Photography instructor, has been named College of DuPage's College-Wide Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member for 2017-2018.

Representing the Arts, Communications and Hospitality Division, the Chicago resident will receive a $500 award from the College of DuPage Foundation, which annually recognizes outstanding teaching achievement at the College.

As a child, Schneberger received a camera and, combined with his interest in drawing and painting, was intrigued by the potential of photography.

"With drawing and painting, there are so many variables. With photography, there's a finished polish about it, a cinematic quality," he said. "Photography combines my interest in artistic expression and technical acumen."

Schneberger studied at the University of Florida where he was inspired by the work of Professor Jerry Uelsmann, a pioneer in photomontage. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Schneberger obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Photography at Indiana University and began teaching part-time at Columbia College in Chicago in 2002.

He later wanted to expland his educational opportunities and emailed the Photography program at College of DuPage to inquire about teaching possibilities. Photography professor Terry Vitacco replied with information about a part-time position.

"When I interviewed, I liked COD right away. It had a friendly vibe, from the professors to the outstanding facilities," he said. "I started in 2014 and found the quality of the students excellent."

In addition to teaching, Schneberger has built an impressive resume. His artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art and the Annenberg Space for Photography in L.A., where he was excited to be in a show with Uelsmann; at Dorsky Projects in New York City; at Geocarto International in Hong Kong; and at Printworks Gallery in Chicago. He founded and ran the photography program at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago and is a founder and board member of Perspective Gallery, where he has curated several exhibitions of photography.

Scheberger is also a two-time recipient of an Illinois Arts Council individual artist grant and has presented at the Society for Photographic Education's Midwest regional conference.

As for teaching, he is excited about passing along his knowledge to his students.

"I enjoy the craft of communicating material," he said. "I remember how I felt about the medium when I was in school, and I get a thrill out of seeing a student get something in the same way I did when I was studying."

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