Sarah T Travis

Dr. Sarah T Travis is an Assistant Professor and Program Chair of Art Education in the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She previously served as a K-12 art teacher in New Orleans. Her research focuses on using narrative, phenomenological, and arts-based inquiry to examine identity, experience, and resistance to oppression in art education. She advocates for art education as a tool for joyful, creative agency and social justice.

Education:

• PhD in Art Education, University of North Texas (2018)
• MA in Art Education, The University of Texas at Austin (2008)
• BA in Art Studio and African and African Diaspora Studies, Tulane University (2001)

Research Interests: Dr. Travis explores sociocultural differences, educational inequity, and critical pedagogy. Her work emphasizes arts-based methods to address systemic oppression and foster collaborative learning environments. Recent publications analyze disaster's impact on educational inequity and the role of letter-writing in reflective practice.

Editorial Roles: Co-Editor of Visual Arts Research (University of Illinois Press) and co-editor of books including Pedagogies in the Flesh (2018) and Experiments in Art Research (2024). She leads interdisciplinary collaborations and advocates for inclusive scholarly practices.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Art Education Program at UIUC, fostering community-driven research and pedagogical innovation.