Dr. Debrah Christine Sickler-Voigt

Departments / Programs

Degree Information

PHD, Florida State University (2002)
MS, Florida International University (1998)
BA, Florida State University (1992)
AA, Miami Dade College (1990)

Areas of Expertise

Professor of Art Education
Creating Rewarding and Meaningful Learning Experiences through Art and Education

Art Education: Thriving in Teaching & Learning (Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, pK-12)
International Children's Exhibition of Fine Arts Lidice
International Kids Guernica Peace Mural Committee
Community Art Education (Local & International)
Experiential Learning
Scandinavia Study Abroad

Biography

Dr. Sickler-Voigt has a passion for teaching and learning that is contagious! As a Professor of Art Education she designs curriculum and creative activities that make a positive difference in children’s and adolescents’ lives. Examples of these include research from her forthcoming textbook Art Education: Thriving in Teaching and Learning and her international community art projects. Bridging theory...

Dr. Sickler-Voigt has a passion for teaching and learning that is contagious! As a Professor of Art Education she designs curriculum and creative activities that make a positive difference in children’s and adolescents’ lives. Examples of these include research from her forthcoming textbook Art Education: Thriving in Teaching and Learning and her international community art projects. Bridging theory with practice, her research and creative scholarship offer educators effective strategies for teaching successfully in today’s complex educational settings. She mentors pre-service and practicing teachers so that they have the skills they need to develop quality visual arts programming that presents meaningful subject matter and provides students with artistic choices through the National Visual Arts Standards’ framework of creating, presenting, responding, and connecting.

Inspirations and Real World Teaching Experience

Her artistic inspiration began in her childhood during which she created art with her grandmother. Her family supported her passion for art, which led to her ultimate desire to share her knowledge with others. Dr. Sickler-Voigt knows what it is like to work with real world children. Prior to university teaching, she taught in K-12 schools with large populations of children with at-risk tendencies, students with special needs, and English language learners. She also designed afterschool programs for talented youth with at-risk tendencies.

Professional Skills

In 2014, she received the distinction of being promoted to the rank of full professor at Middle Tennessee State University. She has been recognized for her national and international community service projects that unite intergenerational populations in creating theme-based artworks that serve the needs of community participants. She has published the results of her research in the textbook Art Education for Social Justice, as well as in the Journal of Art Education, Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education, and Focus on Inclusive Education.

Additionally, she has received awards for her development of instructional technology resources and comprehensive teaching methods—including the Outstanding Art Educator in Higher Education Award by the Tennessee Art Education Association and Favorite MTSU Professor. Her service to the profession includes serving as an inaugural editorial board member for the Journal of Art for Life and reviewing publications for the National Art Education Association’s Publications and Materials Committee.

International Service

On an international level, Dr. Sickler-Voigt has developed International Kids’ Guernica Project murals exhibited in Bali, Indonesia and Brenderup, Denmark. She developed a Scandinavian Study Abroad program through which she and her university students teach comprehensive art lessons to children in Scandinavian schools and also teach in Scandinavian museums. She has formed partnerships with the Northern Norway’s Rucksack Program/Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter and participated in a residency at Kunstnerhuset Lofoten in the Arctic Circle (Svolvaer, Norway). She has the privilege of being invited to serve as a Foreign Panel Juror for the International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts, Lidice’s Exhibition in Lidice, Czech Republic. She has recently been awarded a sabbatical to pursue creative scholarship on international children’s development in art.

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Publications

Dr. Sickler-Voigt's research has appeared in the following:

Art Education
Journal of Social Theory in Art Education
Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education
Focus on Inclusive Education
University of North Carolina Press
Art Education for Social Justice: National Art Education Association

Presentations

Dr. Sickler-Voigt presents at juried State, National, and International Conferences.

Changes in Children’s Development Theories: Pathways to Best Practice in Art Education (2017)

National Art Education Association, New York City

Awards

Dr. Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt, Professor of Art Education, was named “Favorite MTSU Professor” for the 22^nd Annual Ruthies Award.
Sabbatical: MTSU Non-Instructional Assignment Grant. Big Ideas and International Children’s Development in Art.
Excellence in Instruction Technology Award. Instructional Technology Committee, MTSU
Outstanding Higher Education Art Educator of the Year for the State of Tennessee
Grant Funding to Support Scholarship, Creative Activity, and Instruction

Research / Scholarly Activity

Research is at the heart of Dr. Sickler-Voigt's teaching practice. Her research emphasis is on curriculum development for the classroom and broader community. In particular, she is inspired by researching contemporary artists and their practices, PreK-18 instruction, teacher professional development, and global education. Throughout her career, she has utilized participatory action research methodologies that make a significant difference in participants’ lives.

She is the senior editor of NAEA's White Papers on Assessment.

Creative Activity

Dr. Sickler-Voigt enthusiastic about providing PreK-18 learners with real-world learning experiences in school and community settings. The community art education projects she develops are fully rewarding experiences for all participants because participants learn and grow together as a team while creating beautiful works of art and forming special bonds. See photographs and learn more at http://www.arted.us/community.html

Courses

Dr. Sickler-Voigt teaches or has taught the following courses:

ART 2200: Introduction to Art Education
ART 3230: Art Education Practicum Fall (6 Credits)
ART 3230: Art Education Practicum Spring (3 Credits)
ART 3500: Study Abroad Studio: Teaching Scandinavian Art History & Visual Culture. Norway and Denmark
ART 3500: Study Abroad Studio: Community Art Education in Scandinavia. Norway and Denmark
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Professor - Coordinator of Art Education