Mawnie Belcher is a Community Arts Assistant for Whitley County Cooperative Extension. Mawnie has been serving with Extension since 2018. Her previous career included Child Development Specialist at Berea College, Partners for Education, Grace Academy and Cornerstone Christian School. Mawnie taught Kindergarten and Preschool for 17 years and has her ACE accreditation.   

Mawnie’s love for art began at a young age. Her father was an artist and uniquely creative. They built their own Ferris Wheel, Zipline and dug their own swimming pool. Mawnie’s background is in Visual Arts and Art History, with a love and appreciation for all art forms. Mawnie is best known for her finger paintings in oil, acrylic with a resin pour and her Art History classes with reproduction art. She believes Art is not only expressive but therapeutic and is an engaging way to captivate the young and the young at heart.  Her classes focus on time to reflect, socialize, and create. 

Mawnie feels so passionate about art that she finds a way for everyone to participate. She has designed lesson plans with step-by-step directions for many art historians, created reproduction art and even Take-Home Art Packets for over 1200 community members who otherwise may not be able to participate. Mawnie often collaborates with other Extension Programs for special programs and family holiday events, which are her favorite. She brings art to our local Farmers Markets and creates programming for non-profit organizations.  

Although art is a big part of Mawnies’ everyday life, she invests all her free time into her family and faith. When not creating and instructing art at Extension, she enjoys swimming, waterfall hikes and fashion design.