She formerly served as the Associate Dean of the School of the Arts, heading one of the five major divisions of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. With degrees in drawing and painting (BFA, University of Georgia), painting (MFA, University of Illinois), and art education (PhD, Ohio State University), her research interests center on how the arts and museums function in communities, create a sense of place, and contribute to civic engagement. In her creative endeavors, she makes useful things from recycled and found materials.