Kelly Wacker

Dr. Kelly Wacker is a Professor of Art at the University of Montevallo, where she has taught for 22 years. Her academic journey includes a B.A. in Art History from Colorado State University, an M.A. from Bowling Green State University (focusing on surrealist artist Leonora Carrington), and a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville (dissertation on women in land art, specifically Alice Aycock, Nancy Holt, and Mary Miss).

• Education:
  • B.A. in Art History, Colorado State University
  • M.A. in Art History, Bowling Green State University
  • Ph.D. in Art History, University of Louisville

Dr. Wacker specializes in art history pedagogy, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. She co-designed a collaborative art and zoology course with Dr. Jill Wicknick, integrating drawing, biology, and fieldwork. Her current projects include documenting the work of Colorado artist Newt Thomas in partnership with the Lyons Redstone Museum.

She has hosted notable artists and scholars like Mel Chin and Dr. J. Drew Lanham on campus. Dr. Wacker advocates for liberal arts education, highlighting the value of critical thinking and personalized student mentorship in small-campus settings.