Dr. Sarah Beetham Named Chair of PAFA's Liberal Arts Department
PAFA Names Sarah Beetham Chair of the Liberal Arts Department at the School of Fine Arts
PHILADELPHIA (April 20, 2020) -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Professor Sarah Beetham, Ph.D., has been named Chair of the Liberal Arts at the School of Fine Arts at PAFA. Dr. Beetham is currently an Assistant Professor of Art History at PAFA, where she has served on the faculty since 2015.
Dr. Beetham's academic work specializes in American art and particularly the monuments erected to citizen soldiers after the Civil War. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Delaware and a B.A. in art history and English from Rutgers University. Dr. Beetham has authored numerous journal articles on Civil War monuments, has participated in interviews on the subject for nationally-recognized periodicals including Architectural Digest and the Washington Post, and is currently at work on a book, Monumental Crisis: Accident, Vandalism and the Civil War Citizen Soldier.
At PAFA, Dr. Beetham's recent classes in the Liberal Arts department include American Art, Women in Art, War & Art in America, and American Sculpture, among others.
"Sarah is a remarkable asset for PAFA, and her teaching consistently forges valuable connections between art history, American history, and contemporary society," said Clint Jukkala, Dean of the School of Fine Arts. "Her knowledge and insights into the history of American art, and especially the study of Civil War monuments, continue to enrich this academic community. It is a pleasure to name her Chair of the Liberal Arts."
"I am thrilled to be taking on the leadership of PAFA's Liberal Arts department as Chair," said Dr. Beetham. "Since I arrived at PAFA in 2015, I have greatly enjoyed working at an institution with such a strong reputation in supporting and cultivating the field of American art and the education of generations of artists. I look forward to continuing to develop the Liberal Arts department's innovative course offerings and to foster opportunities for PAFA students to engage with museum staff, collections, and programs."
