Gloria Bender
Professor - Art History, Drawing, Design, Graphic Art and Painting.
Gloria graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Art Education and a minor in English, having spent her junior year at Sigtuna Folkhögskola in Sweden. She began her career teaching art to high school students in Chicago. She then went on to serve as a graphic artist for the Chicago agencies of Biddle Advertising, Summers Studio, and the J Musich Studio.
Later, she began directing her creative talent toward interior design and went on to establish her own business, serving as a design consultant to interior designers in the Merchandise Mart of Chicago. Gloria conceived and developed the entire art program here at Harkness that encompasses Art History, Drawing, Design, Graphic Art and Painting
When Harkness students take part in exchange programs, vacation with family or have opportunities to study in other countries, they look for museums and art galleries. "I love it when they send emails with photos of art we have studied. Many times, they've sent me work of a new artist they've discovered, and I try to add that artist to our curriculum. The very fact that I have teenagers exploring art museums, makes me smile."

