John B. Nici, author of Advanced Art History, Great Books, and Advanced (AP) Literature and Composition, has taught Advanced Placement Art History and Great Books for thirty years at Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst, New York, and Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills, New York. Additionally, he teaches art history as an adjunct professor at Queens College in Flushing, New York. In that capacity he has taught such diverse subjects as Medieval Art, Art of Renaissance Italy: 16th Century, Art of England, American Art, Romanticism and Impressionism. Queens College has recently honored him as the 2004 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching by Adjunct Faculty. He has delivered scholarly papers at symposia held at Indiana University, Western Michigan University and Siena College. His recent article, “Delacroix’s Portrait of Chopin as a Surrogate Self-Portrait,” appeared in the book The Age of Chopin (Indiana University Press, 2004). Forthcoming is “The Most Perfect Picture in the World: Raphael’s Sistine Madonna” which will be included in the volume The Masterpiece Effect. In 1997 he began his association with the College Board, first as a reader and table leader of the Advanced Placement Art History examination, and then as a consultant holding workshops for teachers new to the field. He has contributed questions to the Praxis Art Content Examination, used for teacher certification in many states. He has also been active in his high school community, working as advisor to the school yearbook for twenty years. This yearbook has won several distinguished awards including being selected as the best in New York State by Syracuse University. He has lectured on yearbook methodology and published in yearbook trade magazines. He has also functioned as senior advisor, organizing events like the senior prom and graduation. In addition to Great Books and Art History he has taught a full complement of English courses from Advanced Placement English Literature to remedial writing workshops.
