Dallas College

Student Experience: Lucas Martell

"I grew up in Oak Cliff in a very family-oriented home. I wasn't able to move away from home immediately after high school, but that wasn't something I wanted to do anyway.

"When I attended Mountain View 12 years ago, I was encouraged, motivated, and inspired by my instructors and mentors. As a student, I learned a lot from the dedication of the instructors; their enthusiasm about the subjects they taught inspired me to continue my pursuit of higher education.

"After leaving Mountain View, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas, then a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Dallas. In 2012, during completion of my master's, my worldview expanded as I began teaching fine art at Mountain View and got the opportunity to travel abroad. That shaped me into the person, and the artist I am today.

"Today I am proud to be a part of the Mountain View family as an adjunct instructor, while I continue creating my artwork as a professional artist. I share the same encouragement, motivations and values with my students that I received as a student."


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Rebekah Gonzalez

Rebekah Gonzalez

Video Technology Student
“A lot of my creative inspiration comes from moments where I feel lost or uncertain. I turn to art to process those feelings. It helps me make sense of things I don’t fully understand yet.”
Video Technology
Dianna Zaragoza

Dianna Zaragoza

Freelance writer and stay-at-home mom
“The flexibility is the best thing. I’ve only had to come in to campus for tests. And even though I don’t live that far away, the cost of gas these days is a major factor in my decision to take courses online. Distance learning works for my budget and for my schedule.”
Creative Writing
Photo of Deah N. Mitchell

Deah N. Mitchell

Assistant to the Director of Alumni Relations and Programming, SMU Owner, Nicole Berry Events
“In the beginning, I was hesitant because I didn’t want the courses to be too easy — I wanted to actually get something out of them. But once I realized my online courses were really challenging, I kept going back for more.”
Communications
Miguel Ardito

Miguel Ardito

Miguel Ardito Contract Production Artist Frog Street Press Inc.
“I really enjoyed the program because I was able to do a lot of my classes self-paced at school in the labs and at home. The program is a great experience, and if you stick with it, it can change your life.”
Digital Art and Design
Lucas Martell
Lucas Martell
Adjunct Instructor, Mountain View
Art
School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design
Updated April 23, 2026