Amelia (Amy) Kraehe, Ph.D.

Dr. Amelia (Amy) Kraehe has been a vital part of Arizona Arts division and the College of Fine Arts since 2018. Her leadership, vision, management, and strategic direction supports the division's 7 schools and presenting units. She is a nationally recognized leader in the arts, culture, and education who regularly advises senior leaders, organizations, and government agencies across the US on building purpose-driven systems and evidence-based practices for organizational development, recruitment, retention, campus environments, and capacity building. She received the 2022 Excellence in Fundraising Award for her contributions to philanthropic development of Arizona Arts. In 2024, she was named a Woman of Impact by the University of Arizona's Office of Research and Partnerships for her effectiveness in driving discovery, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, building community impacts, and empowering others. 

Kraehe is an award-winning researcher and writer whose work regularly appears in leading scholarly journals. Her publications, podcasts, public lectures, and workshops illuminate how social, cultural, economic, and political contexts influence the development, identity, and agency of arts education professionals. She has published four books and is the recipient of many research grants and honors, including the Manuel Barkan Memorial Award from the National Art Education Association and the Mac Arthur Goodwin Award for Distinguished Service in the Profession.

She is a professor of Art and Visual Culture Education in the School of Art, an affiliate faculty in Human Rights Practice, and a member of the Graduate Faculty. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with specialization in Cultural Studies in Education and an M.A. in Art Education from The University of Texas at Austin. She received a B.A. in Studio Art and Economics magna cum laude from Wellesley College in Massachusetts.