For Michelle Steen, creativity has always been about more than making art: it’s about encouraging curiosity, building confidence, and helping students discover new ways to see the world.

As a Program Manager in Sacramento State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE), Michelle spends her days supporting adult learners pursuing fully online degree completion programs through partnerships with several of the university’s colleges. During the summer, however, she steps into a different role: art instructor for CCE’s Summer Youth Academies, where she helps young artists explore their creativity through hands-on learning and artistic experimentation.

“I love teaching and am an artist, so I welcomed the opportunity,” she said. “When my colleague who coordinates the Summer Youth Academies asked if I’d be interested, it felt like a perfect fit.”

This summer, Michelle taught Dynamic Nature Drawing and Acrylic Art Lab, two immersive courses designed to help students develop both technical skills and creative confidence. Drawing inspiration from Sacramento State’s picturesque campus, students spent time sketching outdoors, studying historical and contemporary artists, and experimenting with a variety of artistic techniques.

“We explored the natural inspiration of Sac State’s beautiful campus with outdoor sketching sessions, learned about contemporary and historical artists, and spent hours drawing and painting,” she said. “Our classes covered everything from color theory and composition to close observation of artwork and professional ways to display finished pieces.”

But for Michelle, the classes are about much more than learning artistic techniques.

“I want students to experiment, make art, and have fun,” she said. “I believe each student should have opportunities to make creative choices for themselves.”

Rather than relying on traditional lectures, Michelle creates an active, collaborative classroom environment where students are constantly engaged. Lessons might include campus walks to study public murals, group discussions about famous works of art, collaborative painting projects, or simply settling into the creative flow while listening to music.

“Students are never just sitting and listening to me or quietly working for hours,” she explained. “We mix it up. Every day includes opportunities for movement, discussion, collaboration, and independent creativity.”

One of the aspects she enjoys most about teaching youth is the enthusiasm and imagination they naturally bring into the classroom.

“The students are ready to learn — not just from the artists I introduce them to or me, but from each other,” she said. “Their creativity and energy inspire me. They also tend to share their ideas freely without overthinking them, and that’s incredibly valuable in both making and teaching art.”

That openness led to one of Michelle’s favorite moments of the summer.

After noticing that some students were finishing projects quickly, she improvised a new collaborative activity by bringing in a large primed wooden panel for the class to create a mural together. While practicing abstraction and texture techniques, students worked collectively on a single piece of art.

Although the mural itself was a success, what stood out most came afterward.

“When we reflected on the project, students shared thoughtful feedback,” she said. “They wanted more time to work on the mural, to make sure everyone had an opportunity to contribute, and to add more layers of texture and depth. I loved seeing how thoughtfully they evaluated both the artistic process and their own learning.”

Michelle says her work at CCE also shapes the way she approaches teaching younger students. Working alongside college faculty, staff, and adult learners every day reinforces the importance of thoughtful planning, flexibility, and creating educational experiences that meet students where they are.

“I see firsthand the work that goes into supporting student success,” she said. “As an instructor, I put a lot of planning into my classes while leaving room for adaptability and experimentation. I want to challenge students while making sure they feel supported throughout the learning process.”

Those experiences also reinforce one of the greatest strengths of the Summer Youth Academies: introducing young learners to a university environment while encouraging lifelong learning.

Hosted each summer by Sacramento State’s College of Continuing Education, the Summer Youth Academies offer engaging, hands-on programs for students of all ages across subjects including art, science, technology, engineering, writing, leadership, and more. Designed to spark curiosity and build confidence, the academies provide young learners with opportunities to explore new interests while experiencing life on a college campus.

For Michelle, that’s exactly what makes the program so meaningful.

“Students have a chance to discover something exciting, challenge themselves, and experience learning in a completely new environment,” she said.

Her advice for families considering next year’s Summer Youth Academies is simple:

“Come join us! Find something that sounds exciting, challenging, or even something you already enjoy doing. You’ll learn even more while having a unique experience on a college campus.”

Through instructors like Michelle Steen, Sacramento State’s Summer Youth Academies continue to nurture creativity, curiosity, and confidence: one young learner at a time.