Holly Rae Feen-Calligan

Holly Rae Feen-Calligan, Ph.D., ATR-BC, is a Professor and Coordinator of the Art Therapy Program at Wayne State University’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. She is deeply engaged in teaching, research, and community outreach, with a focus on trauma, substance use disorders, and refugee mental health. Her leadership extends to national service in the American Art Therapy Association, where she has held editorial and governance roles.

• Ph.D., Higher Education – University of Michigan
• M.A., Art Therapy – Wright State University

Her research explores how art-making promotes wellness in traumatized populations, especially refugees, immigrants, and individuals with substance use disorders. She integrates service-learning into her pedagogy, emphasizing community partnerships and participatory action research. Her work often employs art-based methods like photovoice, murals, and virtual art therapy to assess outcomes and foster resilience.

Her recent publications highlight innovative applications of art therapy in medical education (e.g., Visual Thinking Strategies), refugee mental health, and community engagement. These works reflect a consistent trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and methodological rigor in art-based research.

Scientific Awards:

• Wayne State University Inaugural Community Engagement Award (2024)
• American Art Therapy Association Distinguished Service Award (2015)
• American Art Therapy Association Rawley Silver Research Award (2014)

Dr. Feen-Calligan has secured significant grants from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan, the State of Michigan, and national consortia like AAMC and NEH. These support programs such as ArtsHUB Detroit and trauma-informed interventions in schools. She mentors graduate students through research courses and master’s projects, and she advises on service-learning and community-based research. She is a founding member of key initiatives including ArtsCorpsDetroit and ArtsHUBDetroit, which serve as platforms for student practicum, research, and community wellness.

Her lab and team collaborations include the Stress Trauma and Anxiety Research Clinic (STAR Clinic) in Psychiatry, where she leads art-based interventions for refugees. She also works with interdisciplinary teams across medicine, social work, and education to advance health humanities and trauma-informed care.