UW-Stout's School of Art & Design Speaker Series invites professional artists and designers to provide special studio and classroom experiences for the student body’s various classroom disciplines. These professionals provide master classes and workshops visiting classes in the applicable fields that overlap with their art and design practice from across campus. In some cases, these creative professionals also collaborate with the Furlong Gallery to exhibit works. The highlight of the visiting artist/designer is a public presentation open to the Stout campus community.
2025-2026 Featured Artists
Ann Fritz, CID, IIDA, LEED® AP and Melissa Metzler, NCIDQ, LEED®AP, IIDA
Public Presentation: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Harvey Hall, Room 118)
Ann Fritz, CID, IIDA, LEED® AP
Principal, Director of Interior Design
Ann’s rapid career trajectory is a testament to her passion and innate aptitude for exemplary design. Within eight years, she advanced from new intern at ESG to Director of Interiors. In the process, Ann developed the exacting standards, collaborative processes and design leadership that distinguish ESG’s interiors department on a local, regional and national scale.
Ann’s masterful color and materials palette emerged from her fine arts and communications background, and is continually enlivened through her ongoing study of art and design. Her formal education in interior design also established the foundation from which she’s compiled a roster of award-winning residential, corporate and hospitality projects.
Sensitive to the interpretation of an overall design concept, Ann has repeatedly demonstrated a thorough and thoughtful understanding of how to transform design into a dynamic brand program for clients. Her innovative design solutions, coupled with attentiveness to detail and dedication to project success, result in productive, fully collaborative, long-lasting client relationships.
Ann’s positive, problem-solving approach to enhancing and elevating every project, in combination with her leadership and expertise, results in a seamless integration of interiors that exceeds client expectations.
Melissa Metzler, NCIDQ, LEED®AP, IIDA
Principal, Director of Interior Design
As a key member of ESG, Melissa excels in cultivating and nurturing client relationships. She co-leads the talented interior design team and spearheads transformative interior design initiatives across a diverse portfolio encompassing hospitality, multi-family, and workplace projects nationwide.
With an illustrious career spanning over two decades within the Twin Cities design landscape, Melissa brings a wealth of expertise to ESG’s esteemed team. Since joining the firm, she has spearheaded the interiors team on several highly acclaimed and award-winning projects, solidifying her position as a leader in the field.
Melissa’s impact extends beyond the local sphere. Her active engagement in the national design community has fostered a deep understanding of cross-market trends and best practices. She has consistently delivered exceptional results, leading numerous high-profile design projects and garnering widespread recognition for her and her teams’ innovative and multidisciplinary design approach.
Beth Hetland
- Public Presentation: Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Applied Arts, Room 321)
Beth Hetland is a Professor, Adjunct at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she teaches several comics and comics adjacent courses. She received a MFA in 2011 from The Center for Cartoon Studies and a BFA in 2009 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Beth has a varied practice that includes self publishing and traditional main stream comic publishers. She most recently had her debut graphic novel, Tender (2024) published with Fantagraphics. Her self published projects include collaborative pieces with writers, artist books, fiber works and paper crafts. She has worked in the academic and professional world of comics and is very passionate about education through and with comics.