Mary Ellen Geissenhainer is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (B.F.A.). Mrs. Geissenhainer has been an art teacher in the Baltimore/Washington area for over twenty years. Mrs. Geissenhainer is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, The Maryland Federation of Art, The National Art Education Association and the Maryland Art Education Association (Career Teacher Award 2011).

The artist has been juried into local, state, national and international art shows. Some of these shows include: Atlanta, GA (23rd International Colored Pencil Society of America 2015); Brea, CA (21st International CPSA 2013, 5 year merit award); Covington, KY (20th International Colored Pencil Society of America 2012); Dallas, TX (19th Annual International Colored Pencil Society of America 2011, awarded signature status); Los Gatos CA (18th Annual International Colored Pencil Society of America 2010); Art on Paper 2010 and 2012 , a National Show at the Circle Gallery, Annapolis MD; Strathmore Arts Center, Rockville MD (15th Annual International Colored Pencil Society of America 2007); Towson Arts Collective, Towson MD National/International Juried Exhibit 2007, Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City MD (Art MD 2010, Art MD 2008,); Silver Spring MD (Holy Cross Hospital Community Gallery 2007, 2009); Image and Imagination at the Mitchell Gallery, Annapolis MD (2008, 2010, 2012, 2015); MAEA Annual Juried Exhibition (2006, 2007, 2008). The artist has received Second Place and Honorable Mention awards during her participation in numerous juried member shows at the Maryland Federation of Art’s The Circle Gallery, Annapolis MD.