Sarah Deanne Richter
Art History Lecturer At The University Of Vermont
Burlington,VT
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Lead for UVM Go to San Francisco
University of Vermont
07.2023 - Current
- Co- lead a 5 day trip to San Francisco, California for incoming freshman at UVM with jen berger in studio art.
- Organized and led a study trip focused on how art narrates the history and identity of San Francisco, using murals as a central lens through which to understand the city. The program combined visits to public murals, museums, and cultural sites to explore intersections between public and private art.
- Students were introduced to the city through its visual culture, neighborhoods, and food, gaining a holistic understanding of San Francisco’s diverse histories and communities.
Art History Lecturer
School of the Arts, University of Vermont
08.2022 - Current
- Develop and teach 1–2 new art history courses each semester, expanding departmental offerings in global modern and contemporary art, non-Western artists, and transnational visual cultures.
- Frame courses around non-Western, diasporic, and historically marginalized artists, challenging Eurocentric narratives and globalizing students’ understanding of art and visual culture.
- Design student-centered curricula that prioritize engagement, dialogue, and the amplification of students’ perspectives, identities, and lived experiences.
- Foster critical thinking through close visual analysis, comparative and interdisciplinary frameworks, and assignments that situate artworks within broader cultural, political, and historical contexts.
- Integrate global case studies—from the Global South to diasporic and cross-cultural contexts—to highlight the interconnectedness of artistic practices and histories.
- Mentor students across majors and levels, supporting their academic development, research skills, and professional pathways in museums, arts administration, and graduate study.
- Utilize inclusive, anti-racist, trauma-informed, and community-aware pedagogical practices to cultivate equitable, supportive, and intellectually rigorous learning environments.
- Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
- Created and designed quizzes, tests and projects to assess student knowledge.
- Developed and implemented innovative teaching strategies to engage students in lectures and coursework.
- Increased student interest by incorporating real-world examples into lessons and connecting material to relevant experiences.
- Managed large class sizes effectively, maintaining an orderly learning environment conducive to student success.
- Conducted individual research projects to actively contribute to institution's research work.
- Participated in conferences and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with latest trends in field.
Art History European Travel Faculty -
Georgia Tech and Oxford University
05.2022 - Current
- Teach intensive, site-based art history courses across major European cities over a six-week program, introducing students—many with no prior background in art history—to artworks, monuments, and museum collections in situ.
- Design immersive learning experiences that integrate art, architecture, music, local culture, food, and historical context, helping students develop a holistic understanding of place through the arts.
- Collaborate closely with a music professor to create interdisciplinary course modules that highlight connections between visual and sonic cultures across European artistic traditions.
- Guide students through world-class museums and cultural sites, facilitating critical analysis, historical awareness, and experiential learning through direct engagement with artworks.
- Cultivate global competencies by encouraging students to reflect on cultural difference, artistic innovation, and the historical forces that shape European visual culture.
- Mentor students throughout international travel, fostering intellectual curiosity, cultural literacy, and confidence in navigating unfamiliar artistic and urban environments.
Visiting Art History Instructor
Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art, Georgia Southern University
08.2020 - 05.2022
- Served as the department’s modern and contemporary art historian, teaching courses focused on global contemporary art, non-Western artists, and transnational visual cultures.
- Introduced students—many new to the discipline—to foundational methods of visual analysis, critical thinking, and contextual interpretation.
- Designed student-centered, discussion-based curricula that prioritized engagement, inclusion, and diverse cultural perspectives.
- Integrated museum visits, public art, and local cultural resources to connect coursework with lived experience and community context.
- Collaborated with colleagues across disciplines to create complementary learning experiences and support students’ academic growth.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary lessons, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of historical context.
- Enhanced student comprehension by utilizing diverse teaching methods and incorporating multimedia into lectures.
- Assessed student performance through regular evaluations, adjusting teaching strategies as needed to address individual needs and learning styles.
- Continued personal education in the field of history by attending conferences, workshops, or pursuing advanced degrees to stay current on research trends and best practices in teaching history.
- Developed critical thinking skills among students through the use of primary source analysis and group discussions.
Teaching Assistant
School of Art + Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
08.2014 - 05.2022
- Helped with grading assignments and tests, providing constructive feedback to students based on results.
- Mentored new graduate teaching assistants, providing guidance on best practices and classroom management strategies.
- Mentored students through office hours and one-on-one communication.
- Managed a classroom of diverse learners, implementing differentiated instruction strategies to meet individual student needs.
- Developed strong rapport with students through open communication channels, fostering an inclusive learning environment.
- Supported instructors in grading exams and papers, maintaining accurate records of student performance throughout the semester.
- Conducted office hours for supplemental tutoring sessions, helping students understand complex concepts more clearly.
- Collaborated with fellow teaching assistants to provide additional support for struggling students, leading to improved academic outcomes.
- Provided timely and constructive feedback on assignments, enabling students to refine their work and achieve higher grades.
- Taught Art History college-level courses such as History of Photography, African Art, History of Design, Global Art History, etc. for over anywhere from 30-60 students.
Education
PhD - Art History
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
01.2023
Masters of Art - Art History and Visual Culture
The American International University in London
Richmond, UK01.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
UNC at Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina01.2010
INVITED LECTURES AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
- “God Loves Kitsch.” Co-Chair of this panel at CAA. New York, New York, 12-15 February 2025.
- “Saccharine Subversions: Materiality and Meaning in Kara Walker’s ‘A Subtlety or the Marvelous Baby.’” Materiality in Modern and Contemporary Art. SECAC in Atlanta, GA. 23-26 October 2024.
- “Re-signifying Museums: Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons’ Immersive Performances and the Restoration of African Diasporic Heritage.” Healing and the Museum, AAH in Bristol, UK. 3-5 April 2024.
- “Carceral Silence: Santu Mofokeng’s Haunting Portrayal of Robben Island.” Carceral Causes: Representing Political Prisoners. AAH in Bristol, UK. 3-5 April 2024.
- “Blue and Black: Cultural Heritage in the American South,” Blue, SECAC in Richmond, VA. 23-26 October 2023.
- “Decolonizing Art History Through the Representation of Sally Hemmings,” Innovations in Art and Art History, Midwest Art History Conference in Houston, Texas. 9-13 March 2023.
- “Spectacular Procession: Rediscovering Freedom in Dread Scott’s Slave Rebellion Reenactment,” African Art and the Art of the African Diaspora, Midwest Art History Conference in Houston Texas. 9-13 March 2023.
- “Who is Simone Leigh? First Female African American Artist at the Venice Biennale,” Art and Art History Students at Georgia Southern University, 28 February 2021
- “Spectacular Procession: Rediscovering Freedom in Dread Scott’s Slave Rebellion Reenactment,” Transatlantic History Conference — “Spectacular and Power in the Transatlantic History Conference, October 1-3, 2021
- “The Anti Portrait in Carrie Mae Weems’s Louisiana Project,” (Re)Framing the Subject: Unexpected Revelations in Portraiture – Session II,” SECAC, Presenter, Lexington, Kentucky, November 10-13, 2021
- “Physical and Social Movement(s) in the American South,” SECAC, Co-Chair. Lexington, Kentucky November 2021.
- “Women in the Arts Symposium,” Co-Organizer and Conference Moderator, Georgia Southern University, April 2021.
- “Portrait of an Unknown Woman: An Archival Refusal.” Sixth European Congress on World and Global History. (Invited Presenter). Turku, Finland, June 2020 – Rescheduled for TBD 2021
- “Navigating the Atlantic: Fabrice Monteiro’s Photographic Vision of a Fractured Atlantic World Legacy.” Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (Invited Presenter). Boston, MA, March 2020.
- “In Memory of the Unknown Enslaved Women: A Discussion of Portraiture Projects by Carrie Mae Weems and Adama Delphine Fawundu.” Black Portraitures Conference (Invited Presenter). New York University, October 2019.
- “African Fashion Photography.” History of Photography (Guest Lecturer) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, April 2019.
- “In Memory of the Unknown Enslaved Women: A Discussion of Portraiture Projects by Carrie Mae Weems and Adama Delphine Fawundu.” Midwest Art History Society Conference (Invited Presenter). Cincinnati, Ohio, March 2019.
- “Fictions and Frictions: The Power and Politics of Narratives.” (Co-Organizer) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, March 2019
- “Navigating the Atlantic: Fabrice Monteiro’s Photographic Vision of a Fractured Atlantic World Legacy.” African, African American and Diaspora Conference (Invited Presenter). James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, February 2019.
- “Contemporary Art of the Diaspora.” Introduction to the African Diaspora (Guest Lecturer) University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, February 2019.
- “Religious Kitsch in Motion: Thomas Kinkade brought to life in the Hallmark Christmas Movie.” In God Loves Kitsch. Routledge. Forthcoming 2026.
- Co-Editor of God Loves Kitsch, Forthcoming 2026/2023
- “African Art” in The Metropolitan Museum of Arts 500 Years of Awesomeness, 2023
- “Aaron Douglass,” Grove Art Online, 2023.
- Bleeding, Pleading, Cursing. “Artists Interview with Elliot Stokes.” 2020.
- African Arts. Book Review. “Expanded Subjects and the Body in Photographic Absentia. 2018.
- Notes and Records: An International Journal of African and African Diaspora Studies. Book Review. The Trouble with Post Blackness. March 2018.
- Http://www.savvycontemporary.com/author/sarah-richter, Weekly Arts Writer, Wilmington, NC, September 2011 – July 2014
- Aesthetica Magazine, aestheticamagazine.com/blog, Print and online contributor, York, UK, 2011 – 2013
Publications
“Religious Kitsch in Motion: Thomas Kinkade brought to life in the Hallmark Christmas Movie.” In God Loves Kitsch. London, UK: Routledge. Forthcoming 2026.
Co-Editor of God Loves Kitsch, Forthcoming 2026
"Book Review: Charting the Afrofuturist Imaginary in African American Art: the Black Female Fantastic." Women in the Arts Journal, Forthcoming 2026.
“African Art” in The Metropolitan Museum of Arts 500 Years of Awesomeness, 2023
“Aaron Douglass,”Grove Art Online, 2023.
Bleeding, Pleading, Cursing. “Artists Interview with Elliot Stokes.” 2020.
African Arts. Book Review. “Expanded Subjects and the Body in Photographic Absentia.
2018.
Notes and Records: An International Journal of African and African Diaspora Studies. Book
Review. The Trouble with Post Blackness. March 2018.
Encore Magazine, www.encorepub.com/author/sarah-richter, Weekly Arts Writer, Wilmington, NC,
September 2011 – July 2014
Aesthetica Magazine, aestheticamagazine.com/blog, Print and online contributor, York, UK, 2011 – 2013
Timeline
Co-Lead for UVM Go to San Francisco
University of Vermont
07.2023 - Current
Art History Lecturer
School of the Arts, University of Vermont
08.2022 - Current
Art History European Travel Faculty -
Georgia Tech and Oxford University
05.2022 - Current
Visiting Art History Instructor
Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art, Georgia Southern University
08.2020 - 05.2022
Teaching Assistant
School of Art + Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
08.2014 - 05.2022
Masters of Art - Art History and Visual Culture
The American International University in London
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
UNC at Wilmington
PhD - Art History
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign