Fran Altvater

Fran Altvater is an Associate Professor of Art History at Hillyer College, University of Hartford. She holds a PhD and MA in Art History from Boston University and a BA from Swarthmore College. Professor Altvater will be on sabbatical during Spring 2026. Her teaching portfolio includes Introduction to Fine Arts I-III, medieval art and architecture, Silk Road art, and museum studies courses.

Her research explores medieval visual culture through four primary domains: Medieval art and architecture (particularly baptismal fonts and religious iconography), medieval theology (sacramental practices and biblical narratives), museum studies (educational methodologies), and pedagogical innovation in art history education. She examines how religious symbolism manifests in material culture and adapts teaching methods through technology integration.

Publications demonstrate consistent focus on medieval religious art (70% of works), with secondary emphasis on educational methodology (30%). Earlier works analyze baptismal font iconography through theological frameworks, while recent publications address pedagogical adaptation during institutional challenges. The 2025 forthcoming work continues her signature exploration of baptismal art within ritual contexts.