Florida State University’s Museum of Fine Arts is home to a permanent collection of more than 7,000 works of art, including 12 offset lithograph prints by renowned American artist Ernie Barnes. The pieces were donated by the late actor and former Florida State Seminole football star Burt Reynolds.

In honor of what would have been Reynolds’ 90th birthday, the museum and the Department of Art History are sharing a special look at these pieces.

“By contributing this portfolio of lithographs to MoFA, Reynolds made a lasting impact on FSU and the Tallahassee community,” said Kaylee Spencer, director of the Museum of Fine Arts. “We’re honored to have these prints as part of our collection. They serve as vital examples of Barnes’ work and 20th-century American art for generations to come.”

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Four faculty members from Florida State University have been selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for the 2025-2026 academic year by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.  

Their work will take them to Ireland, Taiwan, Hungary and India to advance scholarship through global perspectives.  

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad. 

The 2025-2026 Fulbright Scholars from FSU are: 

Kristin Dowell, an associate professor in the Department of Art History in the College of Fine Arts, will use the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to conduct research at University College Cork (UCC) in Cork, Ireland, during the spring 2026 semester.   

Dowell specializes in art of Native North America with an emphasis on Indigenous cinema and contemporary art. During her time at UCC, Dowell will develop a new exhibition to be installed in Ireland. She will also teach seminars on collaborative research projects, Indigenous art history and curatorial practices, in addition to several public speaking engagements.  

“I am honored to have been selected for this Fulbright Scholar Award at the esteemed University College Cork, which prioritizes the belief that ‘the university is in the community, of the community and for the community,’” Dowell said. “This ethos strongly aligns with my own research ethics, interdisciplinary scholarly and curatorial practices, and long-term professional commitment to community engagement.” 

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These Spring 2024 Florida State University graduates have worked hard to reach this moment, and all have unique stories about their time at FSU. From research to community involvement, their experiences have shaped who they are and prepared them for what’s next.

Conor Andrich

Sarasota native Conor Andrich completed his Master of Arts in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies (MCHS) in the Department of Art History. During his two years at FSU, Andrich pursued his interests in vernacular art — a genre of visual art made by self-taught artists — and community-centric heritage.  

“I decided to attend FSU because the MCHS program presented what I saw to be the perfect balance between the conceptual/theoretical elements of art history and the practical elements of museum work,” he said. “I have really broadened my horizons both intellectually and professionally through this program.” 

While attending classes at FSU, Andrich worked with the Carrabelle History Museum, a small museum with a local focus on the panhandle town of Carrabelle, helping them catalog their collection and create oral histories with community members. He also interned at Everglades National Park in the South Florida Collections Management Center.

“I am proud of the work I have done with the Carrabelle History Museum, which tells the story of Carrabelle through objects that are sourced from the community,” Andrich said. “The Carrabelle History Museum is a labor of love and the truest reflection of its community, and I believe that is what museum work, at its heart, should be about.” 

After graduation, Andrich will work at the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Hollywood, Florida, where he will assist in the cataloging, conservation and curation of a 200,000-object collection of Florida Indigenous art, artifacts and material culture. 

“I am eager to contribute to the preservation of Indigenous history and knowledge, as well as to a greater public understanding of the fact that Indigenous cultures remain vital today, especially in Florida,” he said. 

Narjes Dridi

International student Narjes Dridi earned her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from the College of Arts and Sciences this semester. Born and raised in Tunisia, the northernmost country in Africa, Dridi wanted to pursue a doctorate in the U.S. because of its reputation in scientific research.  

She learned about Florida State from her chemistry professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis in Tunisia, where she earned her master’s degree. His daughter had started her doctoral studies in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at FSU and touted the program’s interdisciplinary nature.  

After a two-year application process and five years of research, Dridi made the dream of completing her Ph.D. a reality.

“I met so many people, including my best friend who’s a visiting scholar, got two pet cats, traveled to different states, tried new cuisines and learned about different cultures and, most of all, I feel proud of myself for finally getting my Ph.D.,” she said. 

Dridi’s research focuses on the clinical application of nanomaterials. Her primary project makes polymer coatings and inorganic materials biocompatible for clinical applications like drug delivery and cancer detection.  

“Using my research to detect cancer enzymes is my favorite application so far,” Dridi said. “If any cancer enzyme is detected in the sampled blood, the solution’s color would change, indicating its presence, which could allow the user to get treated in the earlier stages of the disease. It’s almost like an at-home pregnancy test: easy to read and saves time, energy and money.” 

Nanomaterials are toxic and not yet safe for medicinal use, but Dridi’s goal is to become an entrepreneur and use her research to develop functional nanotechnology materials to benefit society and the environment.  

Following graduation, Dridi will remain in the U.S. to continue learning about the business and technology industry as the next step in her journey of making “nanotechnology truly useful for everyone.”

Julie Kuper and Tessa Spaulding

Julie Kuper, a first-generation college student from Naples, Florida, graduated with a doctorate in criminology. What could make it more meaningful? Her sister, Tessa Spaulding, is graduating, too, with a bachelor’s in editing, writing and media. 

“This is a really special moment for us,” Kuper said. “I am beyond excited to just enjoy and drink that in. Our family gets to gather here, all in one place, just to celebrate and dream up what the future might hold.” 

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Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts and Native and Indigenous Studies Center hosted a panel Thursday, March 28, where experts discussed the challenges of preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages.

“Let All Languages Live: Celebrating Language Revitalization” featured Manchán Magan, a native Irish speaker, writer and documentary filmmaker; Everett Osceola, cultural ambassador of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Mvskoke speaker; and Jennifer Johnson, citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and co-founder of their language immersion school.

The hybrid panel discussion, hosted both online and in-person at FSU’s Museum of Fine Arts, was moderated by Mary Linn, curator of language and cultural vitality at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. All panelists are leaders at the forefront of innovative strategies to support language reclamation in their communities.

“People’s identities are so deeply connected to language,” said Kristin Dowell, associate professor of art history. “The more we can support and learn about language revitalization happening around the globe, I think the stronger all of our knowledge and cultural heritage becomes.”

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Florida State University’s Department of Art History will celebrate 40 years of symposia featuring graduate students’ original research within all areas of study, from art and architectural history to visual and material culture.

The 40th Annual Art History Graduate Student Symposium will take place from 1:30-6 p.m. Friday, March 1, and from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in the William Johnston Building, room 2005. The event is part of the College of Fine Arts anniversary celebration.

“For four decades, the Department of Art History has fostered the future of the discipline by hosting this student-focused conference and bringing internationally acclaimed scholars to our campus as keynote speakers,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We look forward to many more years of celebrating and supporting these emerging scholars.”

Inaugurated in 1981, the annual event brings together students, professors and members of the community to share ideas and expertise. Students from around the country are invited to present their research in 20-minute talks followed by a Q&A with the audience, with opportunities for further discussion in social gatherings throughout the event.

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Native American Heritage Month, observed during November, serves as a reminder of the significant contributions, rich traditions and ancestry of Native and Indigenous peoples.

Professors at Florida State University study and explore various aspects of Native and Indigenous histories and contemporary lived experiences and are available to provide context and insights.

Andrew Frank

Director, Native American and Indigenous Studies Center; Allen Morris Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences

afrank@fsu.edu

Frank is an ethnohistorian who specializes in the history of the Florida Seminoles and the Native South. His research has been supported by the American Philosophical Society, American Historical Association, Newberry Library, Huntington Library and others. Frank is the inaugural director of the FSU Native American and Indigenous Studies Center.

Michael D. Carrasco

Associate Dean, College of Fine Arts; Associate Professor, Department of Art History

mcarrasco@fsu.edu

Carrasco’s research and teaching cover the archaeology, anthropology and visual cultures of the Indigenous Americas, with a particular focus on Mesoamerican writing systems and poetics and Indigenous knowledge about plants, food and the environment.

Kristin Dowell

Associate Professor, College of Fine Arts, Department of Art History

kdowell@fsu.edu

Dowell is a community-engaged scholar who specializes in the art of Native North America with an emphasis on global Indigenous cinema and contemporary art. She has been collaborating with Indigenous filmmakers for over 20 years, curating Indigenous film screenings and film festivals. Dowell has published a book and dozens of articles focused on Indigenous cinema and is organizing a panel discussion on Indigenous language revitalization to be held March 28, 2024, at FSU’s Museum of Fine Arts and on Zoom.

Paul Niell

Associate Professor, College of Fine Arts, Department of Art History

pniell@fsu.edu

Niell’s research focuses on architecture and cultural landscapes of the Caribbean in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and teaches courses in Spanish Colonial art and architecture. He is working alongside other scholars on a publication that explores the interrelationships between ecology, material culture and empire in the architecture of Indigenous and African Diasporic communities in the Americas, such as the Seminole chickee and other structures, that utilized native plants and other sustainable materials.

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Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts and several of its departments are observing special anniversaries this academic year, and students, alumni and friends are invited to join the celebration at several upcoming events.

The performing and visual arts have been interwoven into FSU since 1886, when art was introduced as a foundational course for most areas of study. Art became a department in 1906, the first theatre production was staged in 1915, and dance classes began in 1933.

“This academic year, we celebrate several milestones in the arts at FSU, all of which symbolize the legitimization and professionalization of our fields,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “This is an opportunity to look back on where we’ve been, where we are today and where we’d like to be in the future. It is also an exciting opportunity to engage with so many people who have helped define the college over the years.”

In 1973, the School of Visual Arts and the School of Theatre were formed from existing components in arts and sciences and education, among others. In 1989, the Department of Dance joined the school and changed its name to the School of Visual Arts and Dance. In 2008, the two schools united to form the College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance, and in 2015, the school became the College of Fine Arts.

Today, the College of Fine Arts houses the departments of Art, Art Education, Art History, Interior Architecture and Design and schools of Dance and Theatre.

“FSU’s deep history as an institution where the humanities and arts have figured prominently from the beginning is embodied and is on wonderful display in our various programs,” Frazier said.

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At The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida State University students can gain career-building experience working in a variety of museum departments such as archives, collections, development, education, library, and a performing arts theater.

Helping to facilitate these student experiences is The Ringling’s Associate Director of Academic Affairs and Collections, Jay Boda.

Since 2000, the museum has been governed by Florida State University, making it one of the largest university art museums in the nation. This connection gives FSU students access to the 66-acre campus, which boasts more than 200,000 square-feet of galleries featuring eclectic collections ranging from antiquity to contemporary.

Boda supervises academic programs at The Ringling and oversees its program team consisting of archives, collections, education and library departments. Programs like the Department of Art History’s Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies Master of Arts and the specialized program in Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation offer courses and internships at The Ringling.

“The Ringling is a major asset to our university and our students and Dr. Boda himself is an incredible asset,” said Lorenzo Pericolo, chair of the Department of Art History. “His dedication to our Art Education and Art History students is unmatched.”

After 20 years of service in the United States Air Force, Boda retired as a Master Sergeant and followed his passion for education in museums. In 2011, he started his museum career as a volunteer docent at the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Boda answered questions about his life and work.

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A Florida State University art history professor and a group of graduate students are working to uncover and preserve the architectural traditions of Indigenous and African diasporic communities in the Americas through a series of conferences and workshops.

Over the past year, Paul Niell, FSU associate professor of Caribbean art and architectural history, collaborated with Stella Nair, associate professor of Indigenous Arts of the Americas at the University of California, Los Angeles, Indigenous knowledge keepers and graduate students at both universities to organize a three-part conference series, “Forgotten Canopy: Ecology, Ephemeral Architecture, and Imperialism in the Caribbean, South American, and Transatlantic Worlds.”

Historically, thatch work architecture actively made by Indigenous and African diasporic communities in the Americas has been excluded from scholarly discussions and considered “primitive” due to construction methods. Scholarship has focused on monumental stone buildings, such as those at Machu Picchu or Tikal, even though the domestic thatched house as an architectural form and social practice has persisted far longer than stone temples or palaces.

“This conference series brings to light this understudied area of architectural history at precisely a moment when we need to most think about the material sustainability of our daily lives within the context of global environmental degradation, inequity and climate change,” said Michael Carrasco, associate dean for academic affairs and research and associate professor of Art History and Cultural Heritage Studies.

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Florida State University’s Department of Art History, School of Communication and College of Communication and Information are co-sponsoring a series featuring short films produced by Indigenous filmmaking teams from around the world.

The series aims to honor Native American and Alaska Native heritage by exploring Indigenous relationships to place, kinship and reciprocity.

Seven episodes from the “Reciprocity Project” will be shown at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 23, in the Student Life Cinema. Initially scheduled for November 2022, the event was rescheduled due to Hurricane Nicole. Discussion will follow the screening, and a link to a recorded conversation between the filmmakers and producers will be provided.

The event is in-person, free and open to the public.

Facing a climate crisis, the “Reciprocity Project” embraces Indigenous value systems that have bolstered communities since the beginning of time.

Comprised of Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Kavita Pillay and Tracy Rector, the series’ producing team believes that healing requires recognizing our relationship with Earth, “a place that was in balance for millennium.”

“I’ve never been a part of a project like this where it’s so collaborative,” Hensel said. “There’s so much love and joy as a part of the process. It sets a precedent for what’s possible, how these stories should be told.”

This short film series, made in partnership with Indigenous storytellers and their communities worldwide, invites learning time-honored Indigenous ways of being.

“These beautiful award-winning films were made by Indigenous filmmaking teams from around the world sharing dynamic stories of Indigenous resurgence and relationships to place and family,” said Kristin Dowell, associate professor of Indigenous Art & Film. “These films will move audiences and inspire everyone to think about creating more sustainable ways of being in the world.”

As citizens of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, Brit Hensel, director of “ᎤᏕᏲᏅ” (What They’ve Been Taught), and Taylor Hensel share a mutual devotion to their community. The devotion extends to all members of the Reciprocity team.

“It is important that this film included the perspectives of western and eastern Giduwa (Cherokee) people. Although our communities are separated by distance, our collaboration on this film offers a balanced perspective of what reciprocity means to our people and how it’s actualized in our lives,” Brit Hensel said. “This film was brought to life by a team of all Giduwa people, in front of and behind the camera, and was shot on lands that have shaped us.”

Episode 1: Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors)
2021, Princess Daazhraii Johnson and Alisha Carlson (Gwich’in)

Episode 2: ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught)
2022, Brit Hensel and Keli Gonzales (Cherokee Nation)

Episode 3: SŪKŪJULA TEI (Stories of my Mother)
2022, David Hernandez Palmar and Flor Palmar (Wayuu Iipuana)

Episode 4: Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come)
2022, Geo Neptune and Brianna Smith (Passamaquoddy)

Episode 5: Weckuwapok (The Approaching Dawn)
2022, Jacob Bearchum, Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Chris Newell, Roger Paul, Kavita Pillay, Tracy Rector, and Lauren Stevens

Episode 6: Ma’s House
2022, Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock)

Episode 7: Pili Ka Moʻo
2021, Justyn Ah Chong and Malia Akutagawa (Kānaka Maoli)

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