Rachel Fendler

Rachel Fendler, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Art Education at Florida State University, where she also serves as Director of Teacher Certification in Art Education. She holds a BA in Art History from Smith College and dual MA degrees in Visual Culture Studies and Arts and Education from the University of Barcelona.

• Research Focus: Creative practice, place-based inquiry, and youth civic engagement through art education.
• Leadership: Co-Chair of the Art Education Research Institute (2021-2022) and former Secretary of the Arts Based Research SIG at AERA.
• Teaching Expertise: Courses include Art for Life, Critical Analysis, Doctoral Seminars on Social Foundations and Philosophical Structures, and Special Topics in Cultural Politics and New Materialisms.

Her scholarly work explores intersections of affect theory, poststructural theory, and civically engaged art education, with publications emphasizing collaborative projects involving teens in informal educational settings. Awards include keynote invitations and leadership roles in international academic conferences.