Unger crafts a career with clay
After more than three decades in education, San Jacinto College fine arts professor Michael Unger is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of ceramic artistry and community service.
Unger grew up in Houston before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War — an experience he describes as his defining moment.
“Vietnam taught me that life is brief,” he said. “You make the best of what you can with what you have. Do what you want and don’t wait.”
Using the GI Bill®, Unger earned both a bachelor’s degree in studio art and a master’s degree in ceramics from the University of Houston. His early introduction to art came through family influence.
“I had an aunt who was an artist, and she gave me my first drawing pad,” he said. “I remember that gift really set it off for me.”
Though interested in many forms of art, Unger discovered his true passion when he walked past the ceramics studio at UH.
“I felt inspired. I took a class, and it just made sense to me,” he said. The medium appealed to him because it combines painting and sculpture, offering “the best of both worlds.”
After completing his M.F.A., Unger worked as a professional ceramic artist and was an active member of the Houston Potters Guild, creating and selling functional and sculptural pieces.
His teaching career began in 1992 when a colleague recommended him for an adjunct position at San Jacinto College. After a decade in that role, he became a full-time faculty member in 2002. Over the years, he has taught ceramics, drawing, art appreciation, and sculpture.
Why continue teaching for so long?
Teaching helps me perfect my craft because you have to break down everything you do so you can teach it to students. The most rewarding part is seeing those light bulbs come on when things click for students.
For nearly two decades, Unger has led San Jacinto College’s participation in the Empty Bowls project, organizing “bowl-a-thons” where students and community members create ceramic bowls to benefit the Houston Food Bank.
“It gives students empathy toward less fortunate people,” he said. “The proceeds go directly to the Houston Food Bank, so I thought it was the best way to give back to the community.”
Reflecting on his career, Unger offered this advice to his younger self: “Don’t wait so long to become full-time.” Still, he has no regrets about choosing a path that blended his passion for ceramics with education and service.
Through his decades at San Jacinto College, Unger has embodied the intersection of artistry and education, proving the best teachers are often those who learn and grow alongside their students.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
