Dr. Amelia Kraehe and Dr. Rebecca Senf (BA ’94, Art History) were selected by the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact (RII) as part of the 2024 “Women of Impact” cohort.
Each year RII solicits nominations from across the University of Arizona and selects 30 remarkable faculty and staff who have each contributed significantly to our identity as a world-class research enterprise.
Kraehe is associate vice president for Equity in the Arts, co-founder of the Racial Justice Studio and a professor at the School of Art. Senf is chief curator at the Center for Creative Photography.
“Amy Kraehe and Becky Senf have always been women of impact at Arizona Arts, and today they are officially recognized as “Women of Impact,” said Andy Schulz, vice president for the arts at the university. “I’m thrilled they are being honored for their outstanding work by the Office of Research, Innovation, & Impact. They are the first women from Arizona Arts to receive this recognition, but I know they won’t be the last.”
RII welcomes nominations from all areas of research and scholarship that center investigation and inquiry, including the arts, humanities, and social sciences as well as traditional STEM fields.
Dr. Amelia Kraehe
“Amy Kraehe, who leads our equity efforts, has truly blazed a path on campus, developing a EDI Roadmap, launching impactful initiatives, and involving the entire division in these efforts,” said Schulz. “Thanks to her leadership, we are moving toward a more equitable and inclusive environment and a culture of belonging.” – Andy Schulz
Dr. Kraehe’s research examines how the arts and arts education can challenge, as well as contribute to, systems of inequality. She employs interdisciplinary theories and methodologies that draw from the social sciences, visual and cultural studies, critical race theory, women of color feminisms, and justice studies. She has published several books, including “Race and Art Education” and “The Palgrave Handbook on Race and the Arts in Education.” In 2019, she received the Manuel Barkan Memorial Award for Studies in Art Education for her article, “Arts Equity: A Praxis-Oriented Tale” by the National Art Education Association.
“This is tremendous honor, and I am grateful to the individuals who nominated me for this recognition. I started my career as an elementary school teacher committed to developing students’ creativity through the arts. Back then, I noticed that students were often fed a narrow curriculum that denied them the opportunity to participate in the arts. They were restricted from developing their imagination, voice, and agency in the expansive ways that the arts encourage. For young people who did have access to the arts, many never saw themselves or their cultures reflected in the artistic geniuses revered in museums, on stage, and in widescreen.
“These early professional experiences made me curious and led me to graduate school. Decades later, they continue to shape my research, teaching, and more recent leadership role at Arizona Arts where I feel fortunate to collaborate with faculty and staff to achieve a vision for student and community thriving that includes access to diverse arts experiences. I accept this award as a testament of this shared vision.”
Dr. Rebecca Senf
“Becky Senf is an exceptional storyteller as Chief Curator. Her vision consistently elevates the center’s collections, creating captivating and thought-provoking experiences for all who visit. As a recognized expert in her field, her leadership helps maintain the standard of excellence at the Center for Creative Photography.” – Andy Schulz
Dr. Senf grew up in Tucson and studied the history of photography at the U of A’s School of Art. She has served at the CCP for 17 years, as chief curator since 2016. Her curatorial work includes overseeing exhibitions and collections at the CCP, focusing on expanding public understanding of photography as an art form. She is author of several books, including “Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams,” and was editor of “Richard Avedon: Relationships.”. Her research and publications have helped to illuminate the evolution of photographic practice, emphasizing the work of historic and contemporary photographers.
“It’s affirming to have the creation of new knowledge through my curatorial work and art historical research acknowledged by the University of Arizona,” said Senf. “It is a great advantage for the CCP to be situated at such an important research university, and to have our contributions celebrated along with those of our research colleagues throughout the campus is an honor! Women’s voices can be overshadowed. It’s powerful for our institution to shine light and amplify the contributions of women specifically.”
Also selected for the cohort is Architecture Assistant Professor Beth Weinstein, acting associate dean for Student Affairs and a member of the School of Art’s affiliated faculty.
About the Initiative
The Women of Impact initiative recognizes outstanding faculty and staff whose expertise and contributions lay the groundwork for a brighter, more equitable future. Women of Impact embody the best of our mission as an R-1, Hispanic-serving, land-grant institution, with impacts resonating far beyond our campus.
Nominations are sought for a faculty or staff member who has significantly contributed to our identity as one of the nation’s leading research institutions, based on their demonstrated commitment to our mission and values, skills in driving discovery and innovation, community impact, and mentorship and empowerment of others, thus laying the groundwork for lasting change.