For more than 25 years, Piia Huson has been a steady, welcoming presence in Normandale’s Art Department. As one of Normandale’s Art staff, she supports the Art department’s labs, studio spaces, and daily operations, ensuring students have the tools, materials, and environment they need to create their best work.
Piia’s connection to Normandale runs deep. She first arrived as a student seeking an affordable, accessible place to study art. What she found was a community that felt supportive, safe, and genuinely invested in her success. That experience shaped her path and she was hired shortly after completing her AA degree, continued to earn her AFA, and never left.
Today, Piia brings that same spirit of encouragement to every student who walks through the studio doors. Her commitment to helping others feel welcome mirrors the support she received as a student, making her not only an essential staff member, but a living example of the lasting impact Normandale can have.
What brought you to Normandale as a student?
“Affordability and proximity to where I lived, and Normandale had what I wanted to study, which was art.”
What did you enjoy most about your time at Normandale as a student?
“The faculty were supportive, and there was a feeling of community and the campus felt like a safe place. If you needed help people were willing to help.”
What did your career look like after leaving Normandale as a student and before joining the college as a staff member?
“I actually never left Normandale. I got hired after I finished my AA degree while I was still finishing my second degree, an AFA degree. You could say, I was at the right place at the right time. As of July 2026, I have worked here for 25 years.”
How did your experience at Normandale as a student shape who you are today as a staff member?
I try to be helpful and make everyone feel as welcome as I felt while I was a student here.
Do you have any advice for current students?
“Show up to class and make the most of it. If you are in need of help, ask, as there are people that are willing to help you.”
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