Congratulations to Our Newest Alumni: Meet the 2023 Art History Graduates

Home » Congratulations to Our Newest Alumni: Meet the 2023 Art History Graduates

Congratulations to Our Newest Alumni: Meet the 2023 Art History Graduates

Published April 22, 2023

We are proud to introduce the 2023 FSU Art History graduates! The following recipients of BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Art History excelled in their coursework, extracurricular, and professional activities. They curated exhibitions, completed impressive independent research projects and museum internships, participated in campus-wide service organizations, and presented impressive papers in conferences at home and abroad. We are excited to see what these emerging scholars accomplish next.

Spring Commencement for the College of Fine Arts will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 7:00 pm at the Tucker Civic Center.


	Jacqueline Cao completed the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History with a minor in Museum Studies. She will continue her studies at FSU and enter the Art History Museum & Cultural Heritage Studies (MCHS) graduate program in the fall of 2023. Jacqueline is passionate about museum education and promoting inclusivity and diversity in both museum and campus spaces. During her time at FSU she has been an active member of the Asian American Student Union and served as an executive officer for the Vietnamese Student Association and Alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority Incorporated. Her love for culture is her source of motivation and inspiration as an aspiring museum educator.
	D’Aundra Coley completed the Bachelor of Arts in Art History. During her time at FSU, she served as one of the founders and executive members of the Museum Society at FSU. In the fall of 2023 she will begin studies for a graduate degree in Health Administration, taking her love of art history with her. She plans to combine the two fields to spark conversations about how art can be used in communicating and supporting healthy lifestyles and health care. “Even when someone does not understand the words being spoken, the visual language art provides is another way to make information accessible to all, especially to minorities who are frequently left out of the conversation.”
	Samantha Fast completed the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History with a minor in Museum Studies. During her undergraduate studies at FSU, Samantha served as President of the Undergraduate Art History Association, interned at the Museum of Fine Arts, was a University Ambassador, and was a member of the Phi Mu sorority. She was selected for the 2023 cohort of The Torchbearer 100, a network of distinguished students who have made a significant impact on student life at Florida State University. After graduation, Samantha plans to move to Washington D.C. to pursue an MA in Arts Management at American University with a fellowship in the Arts Management department.
	Mia Jackson completed the Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English—Editing, Writing, and Media with a minor in Museum Studies. In her final two years at FSU, she completed an Honors in the Major undergraduate thesis under the direction of Dr. Erika Loic, titled Digital Storytelling and User Experience in Online Exhibition Development. She also served as Editor in Chief of *The Kudzu Review* Literary Magazine, and currently works as assistant to the director at The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum. She plans to apply to graduate programs in Art History this fall (don’t ask her which ones yet, she’s not sure), and hopes to one day write and design interactive museum exhibitions. UPDATE 5/5/23: Mia is an inaugural recipient of the Rose Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement in Art History.
	Erica Lomnitz completed the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Studio Art with a minor in Museum Studies. During her time at FSU, Erica pursued her interests in preservation, curation, and creation at various internships including a curatorial internship at The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum and a fabrication internship at the Florida State University Master Craftsman Studio. Erica’s time at FSU illuminated avenues in unifying her studies in the history of art criticism and her practice as an artist. Through these experiences she has defined an interest in exhibition research, design, and execution. Erica plans to move to London, England, to find work and experience that blends elements of fabrication and curation in creative community spaces.
	Abby Perpich completed the bachelor’s degree in Art History. In the fall of 2023 she will return to FSU as an Art History master’s student to further her studies in medieval art and architecture. Eventually she plans to pursue a PhD and work in academics or art curation, and share her interests in medieval art with others. Abby is excited to be traveling to Germany this summer to visit in person some of the sites and monuments she has been studying for the past three years.
	Gianna Prado completed the bachelor’s degree with a double major in Art History and Studio Art. During her undergraduate studies Gianna completed internships at the Tallahassee Museum and at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts. She integrates her research interests in the history of printmaking and historical costume with her art practice in graphics and costuming. After graduation she will return to her home city of Miami and work with the Miami City Ballet’s costume department. Gianna is also passionate about comic book history, and hopes to one day open a comic book store and contribute to her community through art education and outreach programs.
	Ava Romano completed the Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Studio Art, as well as a minor in Museum Studies. During her time at Florida State, Ava served as the President of the Eta Sigma Phi Classics Honor Society, Secretary and founding member of the Museum Society at FSU, and an art teacher at several local arts organizations. She also held internships at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts and 621 Gallery with a focus on public programming and administration. With the opportunities to work closely with Dr. Lynn Jones on material culture from early medieval Constantinople and Safavid Iran, she has become increasingly fascinated by the Middle Ages and early modern period and looks forward to deepening her passion in these areas. This fall, she will begin her master’s in Art History at Hunter College with a full tuition fellowship. UPDATE 5/5/23: Ava is an inaugural recipient of the Rose Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement in Art History.
	Jessica Salaun completed a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Studio Art with a minor in Museum Studies. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Jessica has been most interested in studying Medieval art history, specifically illuminated manuscripts. During her time at FSU, she acted as co-director of the campus Phyllis Straus Gallery, founder and treasurer of the campus organization Art Students’ League, and member of the Panhellenic chapter Delta Zeta. Next year, she plans to complete a master’s degree at Florida State University in Art History with a focus in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies. She hopes to eventually return to her home region of South Mississippi to promote arts programming and education through effective museum curation.
	Lucy Smith completed the Bachelor of Arts in Art History. During her undergraduate studies, Lucy served as the Vice President of Outreach for the Undergraduate Art History Association. Lucy is also an independent bookseller at Midtown Reader, where she developed a love for books and a deep appreciation for the publishing industry. With the knowledge she has gained at FSU and her experience in bookselling, Lucy is now excited to take the next step in her career and pursue a role in publishing. She writes, “I am excited to apply my knowledge and creativity to the publishing industry. My passion for the arts has led to a particular interest in children’s picture books, and I’m eager to shape young minds and inspire creativity through literature.”
	Amanda Elena Brito completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a focus in Museum & Cultural Heritage Studies. Her research focuses on contemporary Latin American and Caribbean visual culture with an emphasis on socially engaged, decolonial art practice. Her curatorial philosophy highlights the social utility of art and often addresses themes of migration, identity, and exile. She was the recipient of an ArtTable curatorial fellowship in the summer of 2022 and assisted in the development of Are We Free to Move About the World and be/longing—two exhibitions held at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts this spring. She also served as the Immersive Scholarship graduate assistant in Strozier Library’s Office of Digital Research and Scholarship (DRS). During her tenure with DRS, she spearheaded the Photogrammetry Institute and conducted extensive research on the intersection between museums and 3D technologies. She is indebted to both Dr. Erika Loic and Dr. Kyle Killian for their steadfast support of her studies in the digital humanities. Their continued encouragement and guidance has been instrumental as she begins to consider PhD programs.
	Quentin Clark completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a focus in medieval art and architecture. His research interests lie in the art of the Byzantine Empire with particular focus given to administrative hierarchy and constructions of identity. During his time in the program Quentin worked as a research assistant and served as a member of the Graduate Symposium Committee. He was also named the Patricia Rose Fellow for the 2022-23 academic year. In the Spring of 2023 Quentin was awarded the I.N. Winbury Award for his seminar paper Symbolizing Reverence and Imperial Identity: The Elephant on the ἐπὶ τῶν βαρβάρων Seal, which is also under review for the graduate student journal *Comitatus*. Quentin expresses his gratitude to the Art History faculty and staff, especially Dr. Lynn Jones, for their formative guidance during his time in the program, and he also thanks many of his peers for their support and friendship. Quentin is considering pursuing his PhD in the future.
	Serena D’Alessandro earned her Master of Art History with a focus on medieval art and architecture. Her main research interests center around early Byzantine domestic objects, adornment, and their reception across time. She is also interested in the role of intergenerational memory-making in contemporary Indigenous art, particularly in textiles. As an Art History Association officer, Serena co-hosted networking events, created marketing tools, and helped secure funding for the 39^th annual Graduate Symposium. After graduation, she will assist Dr. Dowell with the website accompaniment for her upcoming book, Digital Sutures, which explores family, cultural memory, and Indigenous women’s filmmaking. She will also help with the curation of textiles in Dowell’s 2024 contemporary Irish Art exhibition at the FSU MoFA. Serena is deeply grateful to the faculty members who have supported her throughout her academic journey, with special thanks to Dr. Lynn Jones and Dr. Kristin Dowell for their invaluable mentorship and support. She will return to FSU to begin studies for the PhD in Art History in the fall of 2023.
	Marlowe DeBrine completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a broad area of interest, from medieval art to the early 20th century. Their research focuses on depictions of queer bodies and identities throughout the history of art, as well as “nontraditional” art and artists that can be found on the outskirts of the dominant art historical canon. Marlowe is looking forward to continuing their education in the field of archival studies. They would like to give a special thanks to all professors they had the privilege to work with throughout their graduate studies at FSU.
	Katelyn Donohue completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a focus in Museum & Cultural Heritage Studies. She interned for the National Park Service’s Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) as her Graduate Research Assistantship assignment for both academic years. At SEAC, Katelyn worked on the Metals Rehousing Project and created microclimates using silica gel packets and humidity indicator strips for the preservation of archeological metals. She also had a summer internship at SEAC as a National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) intern. As a NCPE intern, Katelyn labeled artifacts, assisted the Registrar with annual inventory, and identified and cataloged objects. Her capstone project focuses on the maintenance of the microclimates and the reconditioning of used silica packets with a drying oven. In her second year Katelyn served on the Art History Graduate Student Symposium Committee. After graduation she will begin her new position as an Archeological Technician at SEAC.
	Dominique Goden completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a focus in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies. In her second year of graduate school Dominique participated in The Ringling Course, a yearlong internship at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL, where she had opportunities to work with every branch of the museum. Among other duties, she prepared condition reports on the Greatest Show on Earth circus costumes in the museum’s collection, assembled grant application materials for the Development Department, and created a circus costume catalog worksheet and catalog guide. Dominique also served remotely as an Art History Association officer in her second year of graduate study. She will participate in a six-week Internship In Practical Conservation this summer at the Winterthur Museum. Eventually Dominique would like to become a textile conservator and study Japanese propaganda kimonos.
	Liv Gutierrez received the Master of Arts in Art History. She focused on the Visual Cultures of the Americas with an emphasis on Pre-Columbian art. As president of the graduate student Art History Association, Liv co-hosted networking events, led committees, and aided in organizing the 39^th annual Graduate Student Symposium. During her graduate studies Liv also completed an internship at LeMoyne Arts, and continues to work as a museum educator for the Florida Division of Historical Resources. She hopes to continue working in museums and educating people through art and artifacts. “To quote my favorite living artist, Enrique Chagoya, about the power of art, ‘I don’t have solutions for the problems of the world… it would be too pretentious to think that art changes people’s consciousness, but you could arrive to a point where your art is a departure for thinking, and the world changes through other actions.'”
	Carlos Ortiz Burgos completed the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a focus on Visual Cultures of the Americas and a special emphasis on Caribbean art. His research interests center on Caribbean modern art from a decolonial framework. While completing his MA, Carlos was a member of the Anti-Racism and Equity Committee, the Graduate Symposium Committee, and served as the technical editor of the 39^th edition of *Athanor, FSU’s Art History journal. He also presented his paper “…and Caribbean Pop Art Expressions?” at the Zurbarán Center of Spanish and Latin American Art* Symposium for Emerging Researchers, and curated Julio Lugo Rivas: Something Familiar in the Landscape, an exhibition of the works of the Puerto Rican artist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Carlos would like to express his deep gratitude to Dr. Karen Bearor, Dr. Paul Niell, and Dr. Erika Loic for their guidance, and even more to his peers for creating a welcoming environment. Carlos will continue his education at the City University of New York, where he’ll begin his PhD in the fall.
	Ajiththa Suganthan, FSU’s first Fulbright Scholar from Sri Lanka, completed the Master of Arts in Art History with a focus in Museum & Cultural Heritage Studies. Ajiththa’s research interests are in the cultural heritage, ethnography, language and religions of South Asia. During her graduate studies she completed an internship at the National Park Service’s Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC), where she contributed to a metal rehousing project and cataloguing Native American prehistoric ceramics. In the fall Ajiththa will begin her studies for a PhD in History and Ethnography of Religions with a concentration on South Asia under the supervision of Prof. Elizabeth Cecil in the FSU Department of Religion.