Alumni Profiles

Cameron Fontaine – MA 2021
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I graduated with a BA in Art History and History in 2014. Afterward I was briefly in the MA program where I studied comic book illustration. In particular, I studied alternative comics of the 1970s and 1980s. During this time I participated in an internship at the UWM library’s Special Collections department under the supervision of Max Yela. Here I came into contact with library work for the first time. I made collection development policies, processed donations, constructed digital collections and exhibitions, and even wrote a descriptive bibliography for book artists Peter and Donna Thomas. This experience led me to want to pursue an MLIS. At the time there was no coordinated degree option so I left the Art History department to pursue the coordinated MLIS/MA in History. In this program I shifted gears to focus on digital preservation, digital exhibitions, and archival studies.

My research focus also shifted to the history of play and games in the United States in the 1980s. My MA thesis explored developments in tabletop role playing games from the late 1970s to the late 1980s specifically looking at the rise of narrative mechanics and the influence of Reagan’s neoliberal agenda on the settings of some of these games. The experience I had in the Art history department helped prepare me for the arduous task of writing a thesis during a global pandemic. The guidance of great professors such as Jennifer Johung, Sarah Schaffer, Michael Aschenbrenner, and Derek Counts in my time with the Art History department was invaluable as I forged my path in the History and MLIS departments. After graduating in May of 2021 I accepted a job as a Digital Initiatives Archivist at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

My job entails constructing a foundation for the digital preservation and digital collections/exhibitions of the Archives materials. I also work with faculty and students on various Digital Humanities Projects.

Sam Maloney – MA 2019
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In my current position as the Curatorial Assistant at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center I provide support to the curatorial team. This support comes in many forms as I aid in the development of exhibitions and programming, arrange artist visits, and assist with the day-to-day tasks as they come up. It is thanks to my experiences at UWM that I was able to confidently apply for positions within my field and graduate with a  job lined up. During my time as a graduate student at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee it was my privilege to learn from exemplary faculty and staff. They provided me with ample support: urging me to look beyond my boundaries, imbuing me with the confidence of autonomy, and successfully guiding my projects to fruition. My experiences at UWM prepared me for my trajectory into the art world, equipping me with the tools to think creatively, problem solve, effectively communicate my ideas, and be a contributing member of a curatorial team.
Abby Armstrong Check – MA 2017
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I graduated with my MA in Art History from UW-Milwaukee in the Spring of 2017. The Master’s program and everyone in it – my peers, my advisor, professors – made a profound impact on my life and trajectory as an art historian. I completed my thesis under the supervision of Dr. Richard A. Leson. My thesis, “Jeanne of Flanders and the Patronage of the Chapel of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Laon Cathedral” provided a new argument concerning the little-known chapel in Laon. During my time at UW-Milwaukee, I was both a TA and grader for several different courses in the department. I also completed a curatorial internship at the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University where I was able to curate my own exhibition and complete registrar duties. Finally, I was lucky enough to receive the Jeffery. R. Hayes Award to fund my MA research abroad. All of these opportunities broadened my portfolio as a student and researcher, leading me to greater professional opportunities such as conference presentations, PhD applications, post-secondary curriculum writing, and teaching. Currently, I have adjunct faculty positions at two universities in Milwaukee – Mount Mary University and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. As of Fall 2020, I am pursuing a fully funded PhD in medieval art and architecture at UW-Madison.
Evan McAllister – MA 2017
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I completed my M.A. degree in Art History at the UW-Milwaukee in 2017. Under the supervision of Dr. Richard Leson, my thesis examined the liturgical engagement of medieval images outside of Jerusalem. UWM provided rigorous coursework and opportunities to gain experience in teaching and historical research. For example, I was offered a graduate assistantship in my second year. Outside of the classroom, UWM’s relationship with the Milwaukee Art Museum led me to a competitive internship in the curatorial department. These opportunities and experiences prepared me to accept an adjunct position at a college in Kenosha directly after graduation. Currently, I am pursuing a fully funded doctoral degree in Medieval History at the University of Saint Louis. The support and high expectations of the faculty at UW-Milwaukee allowed me to confidently teach undergraduate courses and begin my Ph.D. studies.
Jackie Erdman (Murphy) – MA 2016
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My current position is Executive Director of the Sheboygan Theatre Company (STC), a community theatre located in Sheboygan, WI. As the director, I have overall strategic, fiscal and operational responsibility for the organization. In order to ensure the success of the theatre, I work collaboratively with the STC Advisory Council members to implement STC’s mission relative to people, programs, facility, marketing, and fundraising objectives. Essentially, I wear many, many hats! My experience in the UWM Art History MA program allowed me to develop my project management capabilities, collaborative and creative thinking skills, and knowledge of the art nonprofit sector. I would not be where I am today without the MA program and its incredible professors, administrators, and curators.
Laura Sims Peck – MA 2015
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The skills I learned from the UWM Art History graduate and Art Museum Studies certificate programs helped prepare me to be versatile, approach museum work holistically, and seek out rewarding avenues I had not previously considered in the museum field. Upon graduating from the program I began cataloguing the collection of two private art collectors in Milwaukee. Having an MA in Art History and certificate in Art Museum Studies from UWM was attractive to the collectors, and the fundamental skills I learned from the program in cataloguing, research, and object handling helped me grow in the role for over four and a half years. This led me to working with the collectors in opening Guardian Fine Art Services as well as their private art museum, The Warehouse, where I served as Curator.

In late 2019 I began my current role as the Operations Manager for the Center for Design and Material Culture in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This dynamic center includes the Ruth Davis Design Gallery, Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery, Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, and the Innovation Studio. This position involves managing the day-to-day operations of the center, which includes strategic planning, grant writing, outreach, programming, and helping the staff with anything else they need to succeed in creating meaningful exhibitions and programs for the students, as well as local and national audiences.

Cortney Anderson Kramer – MA 2015
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My time at UWM was transformational. I began as an educator with a degree in Psychology, but wanted nothing more than to dedicate my career to the arts. Two years and a Master’s degree later, I embarked on a new professional track as well-prepared member of the art history community.My academic advisors at UWM have been valued contributors to my success. They are dedicated to providing opportunities for students to develop professional skills while nurturing high caliber scholarship. In support of my thesis “Lydia at a Tapestry Frame,” the Jeffery R. Hayes Award funded research at the Archives of American Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which served as important experiences in the research process. My time at UWM helped me sharpen critical thinking skills that I lean on when approaching every research project, publication, and presentation. After completing my M.A. in Art History, I went on to work for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center before pursuing my PhD at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving on CAA’s Professional Committee, contributing to award-winning exhibitions and publications, working as adjunct faculty, and helping to develop the UW Campus Art Exchange. I am currently on fellowship to complete my dissertation and look forward to where the road leads next!
Audrey Jacobs – MA 2014
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UW-Milwaukee’s Art History program helped me begin a fulfilling, exciting career in museum education. I received my MA in Art History and Certificate of Museum Studies in 2014 and soon after started at The Heritage Center at Red Cloud as Museum Educator. This contemporary Native art museum is located in the territory now known as the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. At The Heritage Center I facilitate interactions between local learners, from kindergarten to elders, and artwork in our 10,000+ piece collection. I also work with visitors from other parts of the country and from all over the world, including through virtual tours. This year I began teaching museum studies to 5th graders, translating what I learned in grad school for the middle school set (and hopefully planting the seeds for a new generation of museum professionals). 

Through UW-Milwaukee’s Art History department I developed the research, curatorial, and program management skills that I use everyday in my job. In 2013 I was awarded the Jeffrey R. Hayes travel scholarship to study medieval French coffers related to my thesis in the Louvre Museum and Longpont Abbey. I co-curated exhibitions with my classmates in the Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery and the Milwaukee Public Museum. I also had the opportunity to lead discussion sections for Art History 101 and 102 which taught me a great deal about how students learn.

Juan Lopez – MA 2014
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I am currently working as a Bilingual Adult Educator for a nonprofit organization called Journey House, which is located in Milwaukee’s southside. I started this position right after graduating from the Art History Master’s program at UWM. I thought this would be a temporary position, but I felt in love with my role as an instructor. It is an extremely rewarding experience, particularly because I know that I am making a difference for underserved communities in our city.

The General Education Development credential has high standards of critical thinking skills that are meant to empower students to be successful professionals and college students. The rigorous academic experience that I received from the Art History program at UWM allowed me to instruct skills in the areas such as; critical reasoning, analytical thinking, descriptive writing, among several others. These academic skills are applicable at different levels of employability and necessary for admission into higher education.

As I am still defining my specialization in Latin American Art history, I continue to be engaged in this field as a lecturer at UWM, and as an independent art curator. My goals are to bring artistic exposure at the community level in order to enhance cultural experiences in Milwaukee.

April (Bernath) Olsen – MA 2013
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During my time in the UW-Milwaukee graduate art history department, I had the opportunity to teach undergraduate discussion sections while taking graduate seminars; intern in the education department at the Milwaukee Art Museum; and co-curate a graduate seminar exhibition. These experiences and the intensive graduate coursework prepared me for my career as the education and outreach coordinator at the Massillon Museum in Ohio. At the Museum, I arrange, develop, and conduct school and organizational tours and outreach programming. I contract artists to teach Museum classes, organize the Rhythms Concert series, write grants, and develop educational components to accompany museum exhibitions. In addition, I orchestrate the Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts funded program. As I connect to local arts organizations, I am working to build a local post for the Boy Scouts of America’s Art Explorers, a coeducational program which gives teens hands-on experiences in arts and humanities careers.
Melissa Seifert – MA 2013
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Melissa Seifert is pursuing a doctoral degree in Art History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is supported through an interdisciplinary fellowship program, Learning to See Systems. Much of her recent scholarship is rooted in her UW graduate research based on handmade signs as art objects. She has presented her work in varying spaces, including the Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Coalition Conference (HASTAC – Lima, Peru), the Labor and Working Class History Association Conference (LAWCHA – Washington DC), and the College Art Association Conference (CAA – Chicago). Melissa has been selected as a 2015 summer pre-doctoral fellow through the Humanities Without Walls initiative in Chicago.
Elizabeth Powell Siercks – BA 2011/MA 2013
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I began teaching at Alverno College in Fall 2014 after graduating with my MA in Art History from UW-Milwaukee in Fall 2013. My experience as a grader for ARTHIST 105:Asian Art and Architecture was invaluable and gave me the experience necessary to write my own syllabi when I began teaching Art of China, Ancient Art Survey, Introduction to the Renaissance, and The Culture of China. The support I received from faculty as an undergraduate as well as on my graduate thesis exhibition, was secondary only to the wealth of knowledge and resources provided by the department itself. I look forward to my upcoming semesters at Alverno, but also to working and engaging with UWM in the future.
María C. Blas Pérez – MA 2012
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The UW-Milwaukee Department of Art History opened many doors for me. Because UWM participates in the Newberry Library’s Center for Renaissance Studies Consortium, I had the opportunity to present my MA research at the Newberry’s annual conference in Chicago. I graduated in 2012 and immediately found a job as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, one of the most prestigious institutions in my native Puerto Rico. My degree also prepared me for a curatorial internship at the Museo de Arte de Ponce in the summer of 2013. I am currently a doctoral student in History at the Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe, San Juan and my research interests include racial interactions and the representations of the colored population in the Caribbean.
Aisha Motlani – MA 2012
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Currently in my third year of an art history PhD program at Northwestern University, I am studying nineteenth-century European art under the tutelage of Professor Hollis Clayson. I graduated from UW-Milwaukee in 2012 with a master’s in art history, with Professor Tanya Tiffany as my advisor. Being part of such a smart and supportive community of students and faculty encouraged me to pursue an academic career in art history, and in the past few years I have enjoyed many opportunities to build upon the skills and experiences I acquired during my time at UWM. Highlights include a summer seminar in Paris with my fabulous cohort, and recent work for an exhibition on the art of Kashmir, curated by Professor Robert Linrothe.
Annie Crouchley – MA 2011
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In 2011, I graduated with an MA in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Studies. Through the program, I had the opportunity to intern at the Milwaukee Art Museum and curate and install my own exhibition titled Mexico Through the Lens: The Photography of Paul Strand and Manuel Carrillo. These invaluable experiences prepared me to land a job as the Assistant Registrar at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha from 2012 to 2014. During this time, I also completed an online certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care through The George Washington University. Recently, I moved to Portland, Oregon and am currently cataloging prints with the Graphic Arts Curator at the Portland Art Museum.
Angela Lowther – MA 2011

I graduated from UW-Milwaukee in 2011 with a MA in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies. My thesis exhibition, American Japonisme: A New Perspective, came to fruition under the advisement of Linda Brazeau and the late Jeffrey Hayes. Working under the tutelage of this dynamic duo was an incredible experience and I consider myself extremely lucky to have had this privilege. While earning my degree, I also completed an internship at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The object handling skills and database training I received while working with the Curatorial Assistant of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs have proven to be invaluable as they continue to inform my work today.

My first position after graduation was as interim Collections Manager and Exhibition Coordinator at Beloit College where I was responsible for the care and management of the permanent collection as well as overseeing the installation and de-installation of four gallery spaces. In the summer of 2012, I switched gears and moved to the east coast to begin employment with the fine art services company Artex. I worked exclusively as a contractor for the Peabody Essex Museum doing object photography, documentation, and packing as part of their expansion project. After almost a year into this assignment, I was asked to come on board as a PEM Collection Specialist. In addition to my move team responsibilities, I also began assisting the Exhibition Design and Registration department with installations, new acquisitions, and courier trips. This past September I was promoted to Collection Manager and have been focusing primarily on addressing long term collection stewardship needs as well as historic house preservation. It is an incredibly challenging but rewarding position (I love my job!) and I would not have made it this far in my career without my degree from UWM.

Renee Pasewald – MA 2011
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Renee Pasewald graduated with an Art History MA in 2011. Until 2014, she served as a lecturer in Art History at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) teaching such courses as “Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece” and “Art of the Italian Renaissance.” In addition, she has assisted with multiple exhibitions at the Paine Art Center and Gardens, most notably, William Merritt Chase: Family Portraits. After electing not to pursue a PhD, Renee has recently acquired a new position at UWO as a University Services Associate
Christa Story – MA 2011
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As an MA student at UW-Milwaukee, I chose to do a Thesis Exhibition with the Certificate in Art Museum Studies which culminated with the exhibition Henri-Gabriel Ibels: Beyond the Nabis. Post graduation, I worked part time at both the UWM Art History Gallery, as well as the Milwaukee Art Museum, specifically on the major exhibition, Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries. In 2012 I was hired full-time at UWM as Curator of Collections.

Since 2016, I have been curator at the Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College. In this dynamic position, I manage and research the permanent collection, organize rotating exhibitions, and work closely with students—all aspects of working at a small academic museum that I found passion for while an Art History MA student on the curatorial track at UW-Milwaukee. This year I will be adding instructor to my job description with an experimental course that combines teaching a hands-on Modern/Postmodern course with Wright’s collection. When in front of students, I often channel professors I had in graduate school who were enthusiastic about their specialized areas of interest, and who often used tangible objects to enhance their teaching. Additionally, the program’s curatorial track allowed not only an exploration of the myriad jobs available at museums and galleries, but also provided an imperative network of museum professionals that became integral to future success.

Ashley Hussman – MA 2010
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In December 2010 I graduated with an MA in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Studies. My thesis exhibition was Rural Tradition and Urban Change: The New Deal and Wisconsin Printmakers. During my time at UWM, I worked as a graduate assistant in the UWM Art History Gallery, where I gained valuable experience caring for collections, handling artwork, and organizing and installing exhibitions. In 2011 I was hired as the curatorial assistant at the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in 2013 I was promoted to curatorial associate. In this position I research and write for exhibitions and publications, deal with exhibition and acquisition proposals, and manage a wide variety tasks for the curatorial department. I curate a few internal and external exhibitions each year, and have the opportunity to help train docents, speak to tour groups, and give gallery talks.
Katherine Iselin – MA 2010
Katherine Iselin is a G. Ellsworth Huggins Fellow in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at the University of Missouri, majoring in Classical Art and Architecture and minoring in Eighteenth Century European Art. Katherine has an upcoming article in the University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archaeology’s annual journal, Muse, in which she examines representations of disfigured and amputated individuals in Moche art, a topic derived from her work at UWM with Dr. Andrea Stone. She plans to return to Cyprus in summer 2015 to work with Dr. Derek Counts at the Athienou Archaeological Project.
Kara Lundin – BA 2010
After graduating with honors in 2010, Kara taught English through the Korean National Institute for Education’s EPIK program. In 2012 she became the project coordinator for the UWM School of Continuing Education’s Global Partnership with Jeonju’s Kijeon College. After receiving her TESOL certificate in Costa Rica in 2013, Kara trained corporate clientele in English language skills. Currently she is teaching English at Knox School in South Korea. In the Fall of 2015 she will be pursuing a Masters in International Education at SIT Graduate Institute. Majoring in Art History gave her a strong academic foundation, the ability to analyze cross-culturally, and initiated the communication and critical thinking skills needed to work and live abroad.
Sarah Rothmann – BA 2005/MA 2010
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I graduated with a BA in Art History(Business minor) in 2005. After working in retail for almost two years, I returned to UWM, was awarded a teaching assistantship, and wrote my thesis on an unpublished French Book of Hours housed at Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art. Thanks to the encouragement, support, and feedback from Richard Leson, my thesis advisor and mentor, I had the opportunity to present my research at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds in 2012. While I work as a Catering Coordinator for UWM Restaurant Operations currently, I’ve also taught art history as a Part-Time Instructor at Madison College and as an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Art History at UWM. The opportunities, experiences, and friends I made while completing my masters at UWM were invaluable.
Diana Jaskierny – MA 2009
alumni photoThomas Sully, Mrs. James Gore King (Sarah Rogers Gracie King), Wife of “The Gold Beater”, c. 1831, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO

I graduated with an MA in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Studies in 2009. My thesis exhibition, Entry into the Sacred: Russian and Ukrainian Religious Icons, explored 19th to 21st century icons in the Eastern Catholic Church, featuring a private icon collection and icons from the UWM Art Collection. This exhibition provided me with invaluable experience in obtaining, handling, organizing, and displaying art to make it accessible and understandable to the visiting public. As part of the Certificate in Museum Studies, I interned with the Milwaukee Art Museum Conservation department, completing treatments and learning the role of conservation within the museum setting, solidifying my interest to become a professional conservator.
Since completing my course at UWM, I received a Certificate in Applied Restoration and Conservation from Istituto Lorenzo de’Medici in Florence, Italy in 2014, and a Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, England in 2017. Between my studies and fellowships, I have analyzed and treated paintings owned by The Royal Collection, The Saint Louis Art Museum, and The Ringling Museum of Art, including works by Allan Ramsay, David Morier, and John Crome. In 2016 I was part of the team of conservators who treated The Art Institute of Chicago’s 15th century Spanish altarpiece, the Ayala Altarpiece.
Currently I am the Fellow in Paintings Conservation for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri where I conserve paintings, including works by Paul Cézanne, Theodore Robinson, and Pieter Claesz, conduct technical studies on the museum’s French paintings collection for our upcoming digital catalogue, and generally help care for the Nelson-Atkins collection. The work is challenging but exciting, and allows me to study historical materials, perform and interpret analytical tests on paintings, and complete a variety of conservation treatments.

Sarah Anne Stolte – MA 2009
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Sarah Anne Stolte completed her Master of Arts thesis, Revealing Treasures: Kwakwaka’’wakw Masks in the Samuel Barrett Collection at the Milwaukee Public Museum, in 2009 under the advisement of Dr. Andrea Stone. She continues her work on Native American art as a doctoral candidate with the UW-Madison Department of Art History. Her paper, “Performance, Gestures and Pose in Postcards of Ho-chunk in Wisconsin Dells” appears in the 2014 edited volume, Recasting Commodity and Spectacle in the Indigenous Americas and she has an essay forthcoming with the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Sarah travels often, lecturing both nationally and internationally. Her major curatorial projects include ‘Air, Land, Seed’ (University of Venice Ca’ Foscari, 2013), a collaborative project addressing tensions between home and exile, drawing from the unique perspectives of indigenous peoples of Native North America and ‘Ancestral Visions : Contemporary Voices’ (Edgewood College, 2013), an exhibit presenting contemporary Native American artists’ works attendant to the Wisconsin landscape. In addition to writing for her dissertation, Sarah now manages Gallery 211 and provides administrative support to the College Transfer Art Department at Madison College. In recognition of her positive impact on student success at the College, she received a Phi Theta Kappa Mentorship Award. Sarah inspires students of diverse backgrounds to overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals. In all of her work, she brings a passion for the arts, joy for curating, and love of adventures.
Sara Rich – MA 2008
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Sara Rich completed her MA in Art History in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Derek Counts. For her research, she developed new theoretical approaches to the iconography of Phoenician ships. The support she received from the highly engaged faculty and the interdisciplinary nature of UWM’s Department of Art History led to her pursuit of a PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Sara defended her dissertation: “Ship Timber as Symbol? Dendro-provenancing and Contextualizing Ancient Cedar Ship Remains in the Eastern Mediterranean,” in 2013. She is now adapting her research for her first scholarly book, Cedar Forests, Cedar Ships: Allure, Lore, and and Metaphor in the Mediterranean Near East. Sara has also recently begun a post-doctoral appointment with ForSEAdiscovery, an EU Marie-Curie Actions project determining the effects of Age of Discovery shipbuilding on Iberian forests. She is currently located at Maritime Archaeology, Ltd. in Southampton, UK, and she continues to engage in archaeological fieldwork on Cyprus, eight years after she began her work with Professor Counts.
Michael Aschenbrenner – MA 2006
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I graduated with an MA in Art History in 2006. My thesis, The Hope of Nation: Frederic Edwin Church’s Our Banner in the Sky and Aurora Borealis encapsulated interests in the philosophical, theological and artistic ideals of the Hudson River School of American painters. It has since been utilized in furthering research conducted on Frederic Church’s Aurora Borealis (1865) at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I have been teaching and lecturing in Art History at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) and Carroll University since the completion of my graduate work. In addition to survey courses, these institutions have afforded me the opportunity to expand my scholarly interests into courses dealing with a broad range of topics from American art, architecture and illustration to Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance and Medieval art and architecture. I have presented guest lectures at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. In 2008 and 2012 I taught on-site courses in Florence, Italy through the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, with plans to conduct another in 2015. I was promoted to a Senior Lecturer position for the Department of Art History at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the summer of 2014. As Senior Lecturer I teach a variety of lecture-based courses focusing on the use of art and architecture as a means of immersing students in the historical cultures under study.
Rebekah Beaulieu – MA 2005
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Rebekah Beaulieu, Ph.D. is the Director of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT. She previously held positions as the Associate Director for the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Brunswick, Maine and as the inaugural Executive Director of the Winchester Historical Society and the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center in Winchester, Massachusetts. Rebekah is a board member of the New England Museum Association, where she also serves as co-chair of the Academic Museums and Galleries Professional Affinity Group as well as the Connecticut State Representative for the NEMA Advocacy Committee. She is active in the American Alliance of Museums, where she is on the board of the Historic Houses and Sites Network and serves as an MAP/Accreditation Peer Reviewer. Her professional service also includes appointments as a Peer Reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services; a member of the American Association for State and Local History’s StEPS Enhancement Committee, organized to assess and revise national standards for history organizations; and a member of the Development Committee of the National Council for Public History. Rebekah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies and Art History from the George Washington University, a Master of Arts degree in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in American and New England Studies from Boston University. Her first book, Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums, was published by Rowman & Littlefield Press in 2017.
Patrick Ford – MA 2004
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After UWM, I got an MLIS degree in Archives and Special Collections at Dominican University. The combination of degrees allowed me to work at such places as Columbia University Avery LibraryHarvard University Countway LibraryMIT Institute ArchivesMaine Historical Society, and currently the Mystic Seaport Museum where I am Special Collections Librarian, leading a team that catalogs and processes rare materials collections. Since UWM, I have also worked consistently as an adjunct instructor of art history and currently teach at Southern New Hampshire University. I enjoyed my time at UWM and am fortunate for the guidance I got from professors Kenneth Bendiner, Jeffrey Hayes, Nancy Hubbard, Derek Counts, and Christina Maranci, as well as librarian Max Yela. Most importantly, it was through the UWM Art History program that I met my wife, Rebekah Beaulieu.
Brian Sahotsky – BA 2004
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My time at UWM was spent working with great professors in several disciplines, and figuring out my specific academic interests along the way. I began across the street in Architecture, and found that my most interesting classes were taken while moonlighting in Art History. Taking this as a sign, I embarked on a dual major in both departments. I ended up expanding my horizons and working within the cross-disciplinary Certificate in Ancient Mediterranean Studies program as well, which allowed me to ally myself with the art history of the ancient world. My experience within these several programs spurred on my academic development, and upon graduation several of my Art History professors aided my quick transition into a Master’s degree program in Art History at the University of Colorado. I was able to continue my work in art and architectural history and theory, and moved more explicitly into the art production of the ancient world. I began teaching at Colorado as well, in the Department of Architecture, and in the Department of Continuing Education. I found that teaching art history was immensely fulfilling, and I continued instructing students as I moved into the PhD program in Architecture at UCLA. While “moving” between Art History, Architecture, and even Classics departments, I have been able to maintain my interests in each of these worlds. I have published in several journals and presented papers in places like Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, SAH in New Orleans, AIA in San Francisco, and Salerno, Italy for the MedWorlds international conference. I have excavated at the Villa of Maxentius in Rome, and conducted research trips in Nysa and Magnesia, Turkey, as well as spent a year in Rome conducting research for my dissertation. I am currently finishing my work concerning construction process in Late Imperial Rome, while teaching and researching in my “spare time” in Los Angeles. In the next year, I intend to continue my academic pursuits by entering the job market, with interest in tenure-track positions and post-doctoral work.
Catherine Sawinski – MA 2002
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In 2000, as an Art Museum Studies student in UWM’s Art History Masters Program, I was required to complete an internship. That internship at the Milwaukee Art Museum turned into a part-time job that eventually led me to the position of Assistant Curator of Earlier European Art. The experience I had in the UWM program has been invaluable as I’ve pursued my career. It’s allowed me to do work that I absolutely love: curate exhibitions, research the collection, write for the blog (blog.mam.org), give lectures, and mentor interns.
Anna Pagnucci – MA 2000
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I am currently Assistant Professor of Art and Department Head at Ashford University. My latest accomplishments include a solo art exhibition at the Clinton Iowa Sawmill Museum (June-Aug 2014), a juried exhibition at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport IA (Sept 2014-Jan 2015), an invitation only artwork commission from the Quad City Symphony in Davenport IA which includes artwork displayed at the Symphony Gala (March 7 2015), Evergreen Artworks (April 2015), and the Figge Art Museum (May 2015). I also had artwork published on two book covers through North Star Press out of St. Cloud MN, Tracks on Damp Sand March 2014 and Breath of the Onion March 2015. And I have a solo exhibition coming up this fall at the Farnham Galleris at Simpson College in Indianola, IA.
Lynne Shumow – BA 1989
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When I first entered college, I had no idea what I wanted to study. After aimlessly and unenthusiastically pursuing disparate coursework, I took an Art History class. I knew immediately, I had found my major. Shortly thereafter, a fortuitous conversation with a guidance counselor uncovered the fact that I qualified for a “grandfather clause” which enabled me to forego core curriculum and basically take whatever classes I desired. I ended-up graduating with about 80% of my credits in Art History. My 2 years as a TA and graduate student further enriched the amazing learning experience I had at UWM and well-prepared me for a diverse career in the arts. I began as a curatorial assistant at the Milwaukee Art Museum and, next, became the Arts/Industry Coordinator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. For the past 15 years, I have been the Curator of Education at the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University, where I use art to teach classes in English, History, Philosophy, Spanish…you name it. I can’t think of a better job!
Mark Chepp – MA 1974
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From 1970 to 74, I attended UW-Milwaukee and completed two graduate degrees, first in art (M.S., 1972), and then in art history (M.A., 1974). Upon graduating, I worked at UW-M in a variety of positions, from 1974 to 1991, eventually becoming Curator of the UW-M Art Museum. I left UW-M in 1991 to become Executive Director of the Springfield (Ohio) Museum of Art, retiring from that position in 2006 to pursue a teaching career at Wittenberg University (in Springfield) and Urbana University, as well as to devote time to my own studio painting. In 2013, the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, in Portsmouth, invited me back into the museum field to fill their vacant position of Executive Director. I have been here since then, along with my wife, Charlotte Gordon, who serves as Artistic Director.
Alan Magayne-Roshak — BA 1972

I’m a self-taught photographer, who grew up around cameras – my father having served with the U.S. A.A.F. 8th Photo Recon Squadron in New Guinea during World War II, and pictures – our family subscribed to Time and Life magazines, but I wasn’t really taken with photography until a sophomore in college – while a cartoonist on the UWM POST, I discovered the joy of capturing life with a camera, and became a staff photographer.

I worked for the POST for four years, and after graduating with a B.A. in Art History in 1972, I got my job at UWM Photo Services. While there I photographed a lot of art and exhibits for P.S.O.A., Art History and individual artists. I retired as Senior Photographer in 2013, after 40 years.

I’ve received 110 awards from news, industrial, and university photographer associations, including 1978 UPAA University Photographer of the Year, Best of Show 1981, and UPAA “Master of the Profession” 2014.

My personal work included documenting architecture threatened by demolition (my documentation of the Milwaukee-Downer buildings was said to have been instrumental in saving them from demolition), infrared photography, some pictorialism, and Hollywood style B&W glamour portraits, but my most satisfying photography is using a camera to record the humorous vignettes that surround us, as inspired by my favorite photographer, Eliott Erwitt.

Alan Magayne-Roshak Senior Photographer, Retired

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Photo Services

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak