Mr. Andrew Hairstans, BA (Honors), MFA, Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at Auburn University Montgomery is originally from Barrhead near Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Professor Hairstans attended portfolio preparation college in Glasgow prior to 1996 before being admitted to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee, Scotland. Where, between 1997 to 2001 he earned a BA Honors degree in painting and drawing. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Professor Hairstans migrated to the United States. He attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, between 2001 to 2004 where he completed his MFA in painting and drawing. Professor Hairstans has 24 years of college teaching experience in two-dimensional foundations and has successfully overseen the painting and drawing BFA degree since 2006 at AUM.

In conjunction with teaching at AUM Professor Hairstans has developed 2 research projects. A Model for Asylum and Land of Hope and Glory explore geographical, historical, sociological, and current political developments in relation to the migration of asylum seekers, immigrants, and illegal immigrants to the UK. Works created with mixed media (graphite pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, oil paint, and collage) from both projects have been exhibited and published regionally, nationally, and internationally.