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Dr. Manisha Sharma

Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Art Education

(940) 565-4020

Email: Manisha.Sharma@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Ohio State University, 2012
    Major: Art Education
    Dissertation: Indian art education & teacher identity as Deleuzo-Guattarian assemblage: Narratives in a postcolonial globalization context
  • MA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2003
    Major: Art Education
    Dissertation: Reclaiming social agency through art education: The role of popular iconography and of the book form as text in contemporary India
  • BFA, College of Art, Delhi, 1998
    Major: Applied Art
    Dissertation: Rusana: Brand design & advertising campaign
  • Certificate, Triveni Kala Sangam, 1998
    Major: Photography

Professional Positions

    Academic - P-12

  • Arts Coordinator/Visual Arts Teacher, American School Foundation. American School Foundation. (2006 - 2009).
  • Art and English Teacher, Nagoya International Junior and Senior High School. Nagoya International Junior and Senior High School. (2004 - 2006).

    • Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2021 - Present).
  • Associate Professor, University of Arizona. University of Arizona. (2018 - 2021).
  • Assistant Professor, University of Arizona. University of Arizona. (2012 - 2018).
  • Graduate Teaching Associate, Ohio State University. Ohio State University. (2009 - 2012).
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant/Graduate Associate, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. (1999 - 2001).

    • Professional

  • Art Teacher/ESL Teacher, Copernicus Senior Center. Copernicus Senior Center. (2002 - 2003).
  • Teaching Artist, Urban Gateways Center for Arts Education. Urban Gateways Center for Arts Education. (2002 - 2003).
  • Gallery Manager, The Alaska Shop Gallery of Inuit Art. The Alaska Shop Gallery of Inuit Art. (2000 - 2002).
  • Coordinator, Summer Arts Camp, Museum of Contemporary Art. Museum of Contemporary Art. (2000).
  • Education Intern, Field Museum of Natural History. Field Museum of Natural History. (2000).

Licensures and Certifications

  • Inclusive Leadership Certificate, The University of Arizona. (2020 - 2021).
  • Adults and Pediatrics First Aid, CPR, AED, American Red Cross International. (2014 - 2021).

Professional Memberships

  • Council for Policy Studies in Art Education. (2018 - Present).
  • International Society for Education Through Art. (2010 - Present).
  • National Art Education Association. (1999 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Continuing Education Program, Art Business Essentials, Sotheby's Institute of Art. New York,New York,United States of America. (April 2024 - June 2024).
  • Workshop, Cultural Humility: A Framework to Mitigate Personal Bias, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (January 27, 2023 - January 27, 2023).
  • Conference Attendance, 2022 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: A LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMATION, UNT Office for Student Success. Phoenix,AZ,United States of America. (November 6, 2022 - November 8, 2022).
  • Workshop, Faculty Mentoring Bootcamp, UNT CVAD Dean's office. online,TX,United States of America. (June 23, 2022 - July 21, 2022).
  • Workshop, Art of Participatory Learning, UNT Provost's Office. Denton/ Online,TX,United States of America. (January 6, 2022 - May 17, 2022).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • ART 2020 - Digital Tools and Technologies for Creative Practice, 1 course.
  • ART 5900 - Special Problems, 3 courses.
  • ART 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation, 4 courses.
  • ARTE 4760 - Art Education: Global Aesthetics, 1 course.
  • ARTE 4795 - Topics in Art Education, 2 courses.
  • ARTE 5710 - Foundations for Urban Art Education Studies, 1 course.
  • ARTE 5753 - Contemporary Trends in Art Education, 1 course.
  • ARTE 5773 - Curriculum Theory in Art Education, 1 course.
  • ARTE 5787 - Introduction to Research in Art Education, 1 course.

Non-Credit Instruction

  • Guest Lecture, 28 participants. (March 2023).
  • Guest Lecture, UNT, (October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024).
  • Workshop, The Onstead Institute, UNT CVAD, (August 2, 2024 - August 2, 2024).
  • Guest Lecture, UNT, (February 14, 2024 - February 14, 2024).
  • Guest Lecture, 27 participants. (September 2023).
  • Guest Lecture, Unpaid, 28 participants. (November 30, 2022).

Directed Student Learning

  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Deconstructing an Orientalist Fantasy of the Harem, Hammam, and Odalisque Through a Feminist Intersectional Postcolonial Lens," Art Education. (2021).
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, "Re-Evaluating the Collaborative Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies for Fashion Design Education," Art Education. (August 26, 2024).
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, "Bridging Tradition and Modernity: An Intergenerational Exploration of Chinese Art, Gender Dynamics, and Cultural Sustainability," Art Education. (May 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Bridging Tradition and Modernity: An Intergenerational Exploration of Chinese Art, Gender Dynamics, and Cultural Sustainability," Art Education. (January 10, 2023 - May 2024).
  • Dissertation Defense Committee Member, ""Cripping" the Curriculum through the Arts: A Non-Guide for Educators on Valuing Student Differences and Increasing Access to Learning," Art Education. (March 28, 2024).
  • Dissertation Defense Committee Member, "Disorienting Resilience: Exploring Resilience With Women Graduate Students in Design-Related Programs," Art Education. (August 8, 2023 - January 19, 2024).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Deconstructing an Orientalist Fantasy of the Harem, Hammam, and Odalisque Through a Feminist Intersectional Postcolonial lens," Art Education. (November 1, 2021 - September 11, 2023).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "The Adventures of PAL: Racist Color Semiotics," Art Education. (March 1, 2022 - April 7, 2023).
  • Dissertation Defense Committee Member, "Art from Home to School: Towards a Critical Art Education Curriculum Framework in Postcolonial and Globalisation Contexts for Primary School Level in Uganda," Art Education. (January 17, 2022 - November 4, 2022).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Engaged Curriculum in Art Education: A Case Study Addressing Border Monuments," Art Education. (January 5, 2019 - June 22, 2022).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Untitled, as of yet," Art Education. (January 2022 - May 2022).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Disrupting the Introductory Art History Survey; Towards a Global, Nomadic Approach to Teaching the History of Art," Art Education. (January 5, 2019 - April 18, 2022).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "This is the only thing we've got," Studio Art. (2021).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "An individual/community model in visual arts," Art Education and Art History. (2019).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "These ways of working: Reflections on the collaborative nature of museum staff roles in creating museum space," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "What if you were a superhero? Teaching gender and social justice through design pedagogy in a pre-service art teacher introductory course," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Understanding how perceptions of identity and power influence student engagement and teaching in undergraduate art history survey courses," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Transforming university non-majors' art learning perspectives by integrating informal learning strategies," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Un-Disciplining the art museum: Museum educators, institutional structures, and processes of change," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Creative expressions of hope and aspirations among refugees in a community art project," Art Education and Art History. (2018).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "Interpreting visual vernaculars: A practice based observational approach to art production and visual dialects," Art Education and Art History. (2018).

Awards and Honors

  • Outstanding Art Educator in Higher Education Award, The Arizona Art Education Association. (November 17, 2017).
  • Doctoral Research in Art Education Award, The International Society for Education through The Arts. (July 2014).
  • Manuel Barkan Dissertation Award, The Ohio State University. (April 17, 2012).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Sharma, M., Alexander, A. (2023). The Routledge Companion to Decolonizing Art, Craft, and Visual Culture Education. (1st Edition) New York, New York, Routledge.
  • Garber, E., Hochtritt, L., Sharma, M. (2018). Makers, crafters, educators: Working for cultural change. Routledge.

    • Book Chapter

  • Mishra, N.R., Sharma, M. (2024). Development of Hybrid Identities: Impact of Urbanization and Migration on Tribal Artists. Cross Culturalization of Tribal Communities. Interview by Nishita Biswas.. TMYS Review. https://www.amazon.com/TMYS-Review-December-2024-Culturalization/dp/819488862X
  • Sharma, M., Shin, R., Lim, M., Lee, O., Han, S. (2023). Desi/Pardesi/Videshi: International (Re)locations in a Time of Nationalism. Counternarratives from Asian American Art Educators: Identities, Pedagogies, and Practice Beyond The Western Paradigm. 45-53. New York, NY, Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003222293/counternarratives-asian-american-art-educators-ryan-shin-maria-lim-oksun-lee-sandrine-han
  • Sharma, M., Knochel, A.D., Sahara, O. (2023). Patriotism and Nationalism: Sounds of Dissent and Resistance in Contemporary India. Global Media Arts Education Mapping Global Perspectives of Media Arts in Education. 61-77. Camden, Palgrave MacMillan: Palgrave Studies in Educational Futures (PSEF).
  • Sharma, M., Wilson, G., Boyd, J., Kraehe, A. (2022). The Water and the Bridge: Dilemmas of In-betweenness. A Love Letter to This Bridge Called My Back. 118–122. Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona Press.
  • Sharma, M., Kiefer-Boyd, K., Hoeptner-Polling, L., Klein, S., Knight, W., Miles, A. (2021). Halla bol! Visual(izing) responses to violence against women in contemporary India. National Art Education Association Women's Caucus Lobby Activism: Feminism(s)+ art education. 199-208. Alexandria, VA, NAEA Press.
  • Garber, E., Hochtritt, L., Sharma, M. (2018). Introduction: Makers, Crafters, Educators: Working for Cultural Change. Makers, Crafters, Educators. 1--13. Routledge.
  • Sharma, M. (2017). Activating Art Education Learning by Mapping Community Cultures. Convergence of Contemporary Art, Visual Culture, and Global Civic Engagement. 170--184. IGI Global.
  • Sharma, M. (2011). Navjot Altaf: What public, whose art?. Art as Social Justice: Culture as Commons. 1 116--118. Routledge.

    • Book Review

  • Sharma, M. (2021). Review of Community-Based Art Education Across the Lifespan: Finding Common Ground. Studies in Art Education. 62 (1) 96-99.

    • Journal Article

  • Sharma, M. (2025). Critical Connections in Relational Universalities in Art Education. 1 (1) Karachi., The Journal of Art & Design Education Pakistan.
  • Sharma, M. (2024). Editorial: The Anxious Now and The Next Big Thing. Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. Editorial for journal issue. 43 Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jstae/
  • Sharma, M. (2022). Jittered Orthodoxies. Visual Inquiry: Learning and Teaching Art. 10 (2) 217-19. Ubana, Illinois, University of Illinois Press. https://doi.org/10.1386/vi_00047_1
  • Sharma, M., Coats, C. (2021). Editorial: (En)countering (Un)certainty: Shifting Orientations through Imagination and Disruption. Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. 41 2-6. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jstae/vol41/iss1/1/
  • Sharma, M., Thatte, A. (2021). Exploring Craft Traditions of India: Heritage Crafts as a Curricular Gateway for Interdisciplinary Learning. Art Education Journal.
  • Sharma, M., Thatte, A. (2021). Exploring Craft Traditions of India: Heritage Crafts as a Curricular Gateway for Interdisciplinary Learning. Art Education Journal. 74 (3) 43--47. Taylor \& Francis.
  • Sharma, M. (2021). Review of Community-Based Art Education Across the Lifespan: Finding Common Ground. Studies in Art Education. 62 (1) 96--99. Routledge.
  • Sharma, M. (2020). Guest Column for Caucus of Social Theory in Art Education. NAEA News. 62 (4)
  • Sharma, M., Sutters, J.P. (2020). Travels, Encounters and Relationship Building in International Art Education.
  • Sharma, M. (2019). A Metaphorical Conundrum.
  • Sharma, M. (2019). Guest Column for Community Art Caucus. NAEA News. 61 (2)
  • Black, R., Garber, E., Neff, Y.E., Sharma, M. (2016). A quest for sacred knowledge: Mentorship to partnership. Other. 5 (3) 273--290. Intellect.
  • Sharma, M. (2016). Disney and the Ethnic Other: A Semiotic Analysis of American Identity. Other. 477 95--107. Peter Lang AG.
  • Sharma, M. (2016). Identities of art education in contemporary India: Reality, Rhizome and Assemblage. Other. 19 (1)
  • Sharma, M. (2016). Identities of art education in contemporary India: Reality, Rhizome and Assemblage Identidades da Arte Educa\cc\~ao na \'India Contempor\^anea: Realidade, Rizoma e Assembrage.
  • Sharma, M. (2015). Mythical Beings and Becoming: Emerging Identities of Art Educators in India. Other. 32
  • Sharma, M. (2014). Undisciplined Space. Other. 111--126. Rowman \& Littlefield Lanham, MD.
  • Alexander, A., Sharma, M. (2013). (Pre) determined Occupations: The Post-Colonial Hybridizing of Identity and Art Forms in Third World Spaces. Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. 33 (1) 86--104.

    • M.A Thesis

  • Sharma, M. (2002). Reclaiming Social Agency Through Art Education: The Role of Popular Iconography and of the Book Form as Text in Contemporary India. School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

    • Newsletter

  • Sharma, M. (2022). Valuing service as labor. NAEA News. (Number 5) VA, NAEA. https://www.arteducators.org/community/articles/1039-caucus-for-social-theory-in-art-education-cstae-column-winter-2022?UserId=aa29a7ce-9bc5-4317-9484-a23d7b2af4dc&sso=905c7bc5-fc67-4a8e-80fb-d4deada2c1e4

    • Ph.D. Thesis

  • Sharma, M. (2012). Indian art education and teacher identity as Deleuzo-Guattarian assemblage: Narratives in a postcolonial globalization context. The Ohio State University.

Presentations Given

    Demonstration

  • Sharma, M. (Leader), Garber, E. (Leader), Hochtritt, L. (Leader), International Society of Education through Art Conference, Expanding and Playing with Meaning through Object Narratives, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Canada. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Leader), Garber, E. (Leader), Hochtritt, L. (Leader), International Society of Education through Art Conference, Makers, Crafters, Educators: Identity, Culture, and Experimentation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Canada. (2019).

    • Invited Talk

  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), N/A, Seeking singularities: potential and arts education, University of British Columbia Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Vancouver, Canada, Canada. (2024 - 2024).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), NAEA Annual Convention, Reconceptualizing Postdigital Studioing for Collective–Creative Participation in Art Education, San Antonio TX, United States of America. (2023).

    • Lecture

  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), South Asian Art and Visual Culture, Arizona State University, United States of America. (2020).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), South Asian Art and Visual Culture, University of Arizona, United States of America. (2020).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), Grounded Theory Methods, VCU, United States of America. (2020).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), South Asian Visual Culture, Arizona State University, United States of America. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), Grounded Theory Methodology, University of Arizona, United States of America. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), Speaking for and of Others: Art of Class in Contemporary India, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), International School Teaching, Maryland Institute College of Art, United States of America. (2018).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Souza, O. (Panelist), Sharma, M. (Panelist), Denmead, T. (Panelist), Garcia, A. (Panelist), The Onstead Institute, Department of Art Education present: Education as Experimentation 3 Symposium, Studious Drift: Movements and Protocols for a Postdigital Education, University of North Texas, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, United States of America. (2022).
  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Bergault, R. (Author & Presenter), Alexander, A. (Author & Presenter), InSEA Congress 2025, A Dialogue on our Journeys to Embody the Spirit and Practice of Decolonization, InSEA, Olomouc, Czech Republic, Czech Republic. (2025 - 2025).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), Cross Culturalization of Tribal Communities, Development of Hybrid Identities: Impact of Urbanization and Migration on Tribal Artists, Center for Asia-Pacific Initiatives and Global South Colloquium, University of Victoria, Australia, Online, Australia. (2024 - 2024).
  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Kachru, P.G. (Author & Presenter), Experiments in Media Practice and Performativity, SLSA Conference, Alien-nation, SLSA, Tempe AZ, United States of America. (2023).
  • Sharma, M. (Coordinator/Organizer), NAEA Annual Convention, Decolonizing the Arts, San Antonio TX, United States of America. (2023).
  • Sharma, M. (Moderator), National Art Education Association (NAEA) Conference, Decolonizing the Arts, UNT (research startup funds), New York, NY, United States of America. (2022).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), Imaginative Futures: Arts-Based Research as Boundary, Seeking singularities: Performing research as an exercise in self-conciousness, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), 6th Arts Based and Artistic Research Conference, Panel on decolonization, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Canada. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), NAEA Conference, Navigating the Loop: From practice to theory and theory to practice, NAEA, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), NAEA Meeting, "Immigrant Other" as Futurity in Art Education Curriculum, NAEA, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2019).
  • Sharma, M. (Leader), , E. (Leader), Hochtritt, L. (Leader), NAEA Conference, Makers, Crafters, Educators: Working for Cultural Change, NAEA, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2019).

    • Paper

  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Kinsizer, A. (Author & Presenter), Unexpected Territories: 38th InSEA World Congress, Discursive shifts: the Janus-face of Oppressive histories and Aesthetic beauty in Turkish and Indo-Sarcenic architecture, InSEA (International Society for Education through Art), Olomouc, Czech Republic, Czech Republic. (2025 - 2025).
  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Kinsizer, A. (Author & Presenter), NAEA National Convention 2025, Re-Orienting Orientalism, National Art Education Association (NAEA), Louisville, KY, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Alexander, A. (Author & Presenter), InSEA World Congress, The faults of our nations: Arts Education addressing the effects of nation and empire building, InSEA, Cannakale, Turkey, Turkey. (2023).
  • Sharma, M. (Presenter), Graduate Research in Art Education, Personal, Communal: Conversing at Borders in Art Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

    • Professional Meeting Contribution

  • Sharma, M. (Panelist), NAEA Annual Convention, CSTAE Town Hall Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America. (2023).
  • Sharma, M. (Coordinator/Organizer), NAEA Annual Convention, CSTAE Executive Board Business Meeting, San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2023).
  • Sharma, M. (Leader), National Art Education Association (NAEA) Conference, CSTAE Town Hall Meeting, UNT (research startup funds), New York, NY, United States of America. (2022).

    • Symposium

  • Sharma, M. (Author & Presenter), Designing the Pluriversity, Workhorse/Warhorse, Arizona State University, Phoenix Arizona/ Virtual Symposium, United States of America. (2022).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Teaching

  • Du, Y. (Co-Principal), Evans, L.E. (Co-Principal), Roeschley, A. (Co-Principal), Sharma, M. (Co-Principal), Hyland, P. (Co-Principal), "Stewarding Cultural Heritage: Latino Art, Museums, and Preservation Fellowship (LAMP Fellowship)," sponsored by Institute of Museum and Library Services, Federal, $396362 Funded. (2023 - 2026).
  • Sharma, M., "Inclusion and Diversity Curriculum Development Grant," sponsored by University of Arizona, State, $1500 Funded. ( - 2020).
  • Sharma, M., "Faculty Professional Development Endowment," sponsored by University of Arizona, State, $5000 Funded. ( - 2018).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, University Writing Committee. (September 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Onstead Art Education Dissertation Award. (2022 - Present).
  • Faculty Mentor, VAP Mentoring Program. (April 2022 - May 2025).
  • Committee Member, CVAD Galleries Jury Selection Committee. (2024 - 2024).
  • Committee Member, Foundations Exhibition Jury Committee. (2024 - 2024).
  • Committee Member, Academic Leadership Committee. (August 2021 - September 2024).
  • Member, CVAD Leadership Team. (August 2021 - September 2024).
  • Faculty Mentor, VAP Mentoring Program. (April 2022 - June 2024).
  • Committee Member, Professional Faculty Annual Review. (January 2024 - February 2024).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Search for Studio Art department. (July 2023 - August 2023).
  • Member, Nasher Lecture Series Ad Hoc Committee. (August 2022 - November 2022).

Professional Service

  • Editorial Review Board Member, Studies in Art Education: A Journal of Issues and Research. (March 2024 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Academic Review Board for Journal of Art Education Pakistan. (2020 - Present).
  • Member, Council of Policy Studies in Art Education. (2018 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Visual Culture and Gender Journal. (March 2016 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Visual Arts Research Journal. (2016 - Present).
  • External T&P Letter Writer, University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Wilmington, NC. (April 2024 - June 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Visual Inquiry Journal. (2019 - 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. (2016 - 2023).
  • External T&P Letter Writer, University of North Carolina Wilmington. (August 2023).
  • External T&P Letter Writer, Cambridge University. (June 2023).
  • External T&P Letter Writer, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. (March 2023).
  • Editor, Journal Editor, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. (2021 - 2022).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. (2020 - 2021).
  • Editor, Journal Editor, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. (2020 - 2021).
  • Program Coordinator, Caucus of Social Theory in Art Education. (2015 - 2021).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, American Educators Research Association. (2019).
  • Reviewer, Book, Routledge and CRC Press Higher Education. (2019).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Academic Review Board. (2017 - 2019).