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Cheryl Okubo is originally from Nebraska where she earned a BFA in art education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She worked in Japan and traveled internationally for two years before moving to Albuquerque to study art therapy where she received her MA from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and became the art therapist for children in a psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque. Cheryl lived for many years in her husband’s home country of Japan, where she raised a family and pursued her career.

With her passion to educate people about art therapy, she created innovative workshops, presentations and public events designed to increase awareness of and access to art therapy in Japan. Over the years she opened two studios to serve local communities with art classes, art therapy study groups, individual and group art therapy, and mentoring activities. Most recently she created an art therapy pilot program for the University of Tsukuba. Cheryl maintains a pottery studio and an art therapy studio in Japan and is a member of the Japanese Creative Arts Therapies Association (JCATA) as well as AATA (American Art Therapy Association). She works as a visual artist for UNM’s Arts In Medicine program. Cheryl enjoys working in all art media, especially clay and other three-dimensional material. Cheryl has long held an aQinity for New Mexico and so was delighted for the opportunity to teach art therapy at 91�ε�, joining the faculty in September 2024