Retiring professor leaves rich creative legacy

Dr. Bruce Moon’s 16 years at Mount Mary has been marked by milestones including numerous presentations and published books, in addition to a pioneering spirit that led to the creation of the Doctorate in Art Therapy Program — the first of its kind in the United States.

All the while, he has worked hard to inspire students while making music and creating art.

“There has never been a day since Sept. 16, 1974 that I wished I had gone a different path, and I feel blessed for being able to say that,” he said, referring to when he first started working as an art therapist.

When he first arrived at Mount Mary in 2001, graduate level Art Therapy was a small evening and weekend program. But he knew it could grow.

Moon proposed a switch to a more traditional graduate school setting with the goal of creating a Doctorate Program for Art Therapy. A lofty goal, but one that was fully realized in the coming years. Since that decision, the program has quadrupled in size and Mount Mary has the distinction of pioneering the first Art Therapy Doctorate Program in the United States.

Doctoral Art Therapy graduate helps pass historical legislation in Oregon, creating an art therapy license:

His writing, presentations, and traveling only helped the program grow and gain distinction. With more than 200 presentations under his belt and several books published he has been an active member of the art therapy field.  Moon’s paintings have been displayed in multiple exhibits, and he has illustrated his own books. He has also written many songs about clients as ways to express their stories.

“You’ve got to have the dual love of making art and wanting to make the world a better place, one person at a time,” he said. “You got those two things going for you, it’ll be ok.”

By Corwin Holzman-Crass, graduate student in the English Program