Four faculty members from Syracuse University have been selected as Art Museum Faculty Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year. The fellowship program, now in its fourth year, is designed to encourage innovative curriculum development and integrate the museum’s collection into university instruction. The initiative supports the museum’s goal of serving as a space for exploration and discussion, bringing together the campus community across different fields.
The fellows for this year are Colleen Cameron from the College of Arts and Sciences, Maria Cudowska from the College of Law, Kelly Gallagher from the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Shikha Nangia from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Miranda Traudt, assistant provost for strategic initiatives and director of the arts, commented on this year’s selection: “This cohort is especially robust, with representation from schools and colleges that have not participated in the fellowship before. These faculty members bring an interesting approach to using the art collection to enhance coursework, and demonstrate how the arts contribute to experiential learning opportunities for faculty and students.”
Colleen Cameron plans to use museum materials in her course HFS 400 Healthcare Communication: Research, Theory and Practice. She aims to “create a course where students can view healthcare communication though a lens influenced by humanities and social science frameworks.” Students will select objects related to death notification for presentations at semester’s end in the museum, participate in object-based art experiences, and write reflective essays.
Maria Cudowska will include museum objects in her fall course LAW 882 National Security Research Center/Counterterrorism Center or spring course LAW 897-M601 National Security Negotiations. She stated: “Object-based assignments and a visit to the museum’s collections [will] immerse students in the legal, policy and cultural dimensions of protecting art and heritage in conflict zones. By treating cultural property as both a legal subject and a vessel of identity and diplomacy, students will develop the tools to evaluate and advocate for cultural protections within national security frameworks.”
Kelly Gallagher will use museum resources in her spring class FIL 500 Cameraless Filmmaking + Recycled Images. After visiting the museum collection with her students—where staff will present more than ten objects—students will choose one piece as inspiration for their short cameraless films. Gallagher said: “My experience as a Faculty Fellow will enhance my teaching by encouraging me to return to a pillar of my pedagogy: connecting my students with our larger Syracuse community.”
Shikha Nangia intends to incorporate artifacts into ECS 326 Engineering Materials, Properties and Processing this fall. Students will examine items made from metals, ceramics, textiles, or wood—connecting engineering principles with historical context. Nangia explained: “By examining these materials, students gain hands-on insight into how properties influence design and function across time.” The course will also introduce AI tools for artifact analysis; students will design new materials inspired by historical examples. “It’s a powerful opportunity to enrich learning by connecting course concepts to real-world materials and uncovering patterns through AI,” she added.
Kate Holohan, curator of education and academic outreach at the museum said: “Each fellow brings their own disciplinary perspectives to objects that the museum often presents in an art historical context. We’re excited to support innovative, interdisciplinary and experiential teaching and learning at the museum, and to see how the fellows’ engagement with art historical and museum-thinking bring new teaching frameworks to healthcare communication, national security law, filmmaking and engineering.”
The Faculty Fellows program is hosted by Syracuse University Art Museum with support from both university strategic initiatives offices.
