Jill Odegaard

Jill Odegaard is a Professor and Chair of the Art Department at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has held this position since Fall 2000, transitioning from roles including Assistant Professor and adjunct faculty at institutions like North Dakota State University and Moorhead State University. Her academic credentials include a B.F.A. from Minnesota State University-Moorhead (1991) and an M.F.A. from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1996).

Her artistic practice focuses on material exploration through papermaking, sculpture, and fiber art, emphasizing tactile design, grid structures, and craft traditions. Influences include Bauhaus aesthetics, natural patterns, and contemporary art history. She has organized exhibitions nationally and internationally, including solo shows at East Stroudsburg University (2004) and group exhibitions at venues like the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art (2004) and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (2002).

Notable awards include a Merit Scholarship and Honorable Mention from MCAD (1995) and Cum Laude distinction at Moorhead State University (1991). She has led educational initiatives like the C.R.E.A.T.E. Living Learning Community and taught workshops at institutions such as the Women’s Studio Workshop and the Glasgow School of Art. Administrative roles include Gallery Director at Moorhead State University (1997–1998).

Jill’s career spans over 30 years of teaching, exhibition curation, and community engagement, reflecting her commitment to bridging artistic practice and pedagogy.