Kelley Totten

Kelley Totten is an Associate Professor in the Department of Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland, part of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a B.A. from Washington and Lee University, an M.A. from the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D. in Folklore from Indiana University (2017). Her research focuses on material culture, craft traditions, and creative ethnography, with particular attention to craft pedagogy and social justice movements.

Her work explores intersections between handmade production, museum curation, and performance studies. Notable projects include studies of folk schools in the U.S., creative programming in prisons, and analysis of textile production ethics. She has curated exhibits like 'Show and Tell: Craft at the John C. Campbell Folk School' (2017-2018) and contributed to collaborative prison arts initiatives such as the Crochet 4 Community Club exhibit (2011).

Recent publications emphasize critical analysis of art aesthetics in Newfoundland and Labrador, human rights through textile studies, and the socio-cultural dimensions of craft practices. Totten frequently presents at academic conferences including the American Folklore Society and American Anthropological Association meetings, often focusing on public engagement with marginalized communities.