Ah Ran Koo

Dr. Ah Ran Koo is an Associate Professor of Art Education at the California State University, Fresno, College of Arts and Humanities. She is a practicing artist and educator who integrates cultural and social awareness into her teaching and research. Her work emphasizes community art, critical multiculturalism, and culturally responsive/sustaining pedagogy, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and global engagement.

• Education: Ph.D. in Arts Administration, Education and Policy (The Ohio State University), M.A. in Art Education (University of Florida), M.F.A. and B.F.A. in Korean Painting (Ewha Womans University).

Dr. Koo’s research spans visual storytelling, digital narratives, and participatory action research, with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and social justice. Her recent articles highlight the intersection of art education and artificial intelligence, as well as strategies for addressing anti-Asian racism and mental health in educational settings.

She has taught art education across diverse geographic contexts (USA, South Korea, The Philippines, China, Russia, Peru) and exhibited her own artwork (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation) globally for two decades. Her publications appear in leading journals such as Studies in Art Education and International Society for Education through Art (InSEA).

• Scientific Awards: National Art Education Association’s Pacific Region Higher Education Art Educator Award, Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, California Humanities and National Endowment for Humanities Grant, National Art Education Foundation Research Grant, Mary Rouse Award, Barbara & Sheldon Pinchuk Arts Community Outreach Grant.