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Stephanie Danker
Associate Professor of Art Education
Art

Stephanie Danker

Contact Info

Educational Credentials

  • Ph.D. Art Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • MAE, Art Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • B.A., Studio Art with licensure, James Madison University

Biography

Stephanie Harvey Danker, Ph.D., is passionate about preparing future art educators to contribute in meaningful ways towards growth in their students and communities. She is committed to creating integrated learning experiences with students and colleagues and is dedicated to expanding awareness, critical thinking, and empathy through art experiences.

Danker earned her doctorate in art education through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She holds a master's degree in art education from Virginia Commonwealth University. A native of Virginia, she taught art in Fairfax County Public Schools (VA) for six years. Before coming to Miami University, she taught art education courses at Coastal Carolina University, UIUC, Wichita State University (WSU), and James Madison University (JMU). In addition to teaching, she has served as an education consultant for the Ulrich Museum of Art (on WSU’s campus) and Sawhill Gallery (on JMU’s campus).

Research interests include: art integration; social justice; teacher professional development in art museums; reflective practice; visual culture; collaborations between university studio and art education faculty; contemporary art and art education pedagogy.

Research interests specific to Miami University’s context: Freedom Summer Project of 1964, Myaamia culture and imagery. Danker deeply values her role as a faculty affiliate with the Myaamia Center.

Select Publications

Book

Baer, S. A., Smith, K. K., & Danker, S. H. (Eds.). (2024). Autobiographical lectures of leaders in art education, 2001-2021: A selection of self-reflections and living histories. Routledge

Select Journal Articles

Meeken, L., Fox, K., & Danker, S. (2026). Collaboratively teaching Myaamia color systems and contemporary digital practices within a reciprocal partnership. Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, 52-73. DOI: 10.2458/jcrae.7503

Rowe, A., Slusarski, A., Black, C., DiCindio, C., & Danker, S. (2025). Creative Care: Promoting Educator Well-Being with Visual Journaling. Visual Inquiry, 183-200. DOI: 10.1386/vi_00128_1

Meeken, L., Fox, K., & Danker, S. Neepwaankiaki: Teaching Art and Culture in the Context of a Reciprocal Tribe-University Partnership. (2025).  Studies in Art Education, 66(2), 178-197, DOI: 10.1080/00393541.2025.2472583

Danker, S. H., & Bradshaw, R. D. (2022). Conceptualizing art integration through currere. Currere Exchange Journal, 6(2), 118-127.

Bergmark, J., & Danker, S. H. (2022). Race-based mascots: Reflecting on university-community conversations. International Journal of Education through Art, 18(1), 75-88.

Danker, S. H. (2020). Culturally sensitive art education in a community: Myaamia Ribbonwork. Translations, 1(1), 1-4.

Danker, S. H. (2018). Art activism through a critical approach to place: Charity White's Prescriptive Space. Art Education, 71(6), 45-50.

Baer, S., & Danker, S. (2017). Digital process and product: Engaging the next generation of art education researchers. International Journal of Education and the Arts, 18(31), 1-14.

Danker, S. H. (2014). Brand: Identity, image, and relationships. Art Education, 67(1), 41-51.

Recent Book Chapters

Tucker, Z., & Danker, S. (2025). Building community resilience with the Finding Freedom Summer Traveling Panel Exhibit. In L. Kay, D. Heise, & B. H. Johns (Eds.), Restorative Practices in Education Through Art (pp. 86-89). Davis Publications. 

Danker, S., Khan, S., & Feilen, K. (2024). Changing climate, changing communities. In R. Vella & V. Pavlou (Eds.), Art, sustainability and learning communities: Call to action. Bristol, UK: Intellect.

Danker, S., Armstrong, A., Johnson, J., & Claros, E. (2024). Citizenship, social justice, and arts-based dialogue through the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964. In M. Bae-Dimitriadis & O. Ivashkevich (Eds.), Engaging youth civic participation: Critical approaches to teaching digital media in art classrooms and communities (pp. 73-87). Alexandria, VA: National Art Education Association.

Danker, S., Lokon, E., & Pax, C. (2023). Building bridges in the community through OMA, an intergenerational abstract art program for people experiencing dementia. In C. Lin, A. Sinner & R. Irwin (Eds.), Community arts education: Transversal global Perspectives (pp. 158-168). Bristol, UK: Intellect.

Rogero, M., Kruth, J., Dell’Aria, A., & Danker, S. (2023). Recontextualizing a campus monument of George Washington through collaborative engagement in the arts. In J. Decker (Ed.), Fallen monuments and contested memorials (pp. 133-145). Routledge.

Recent Miami University and Myaamia Center News