Joni Boyd Acuff

Dr. Joni Boyd Acuff is an Associate Professor of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at OSU. She serves as graduate studies chair in AAEP. Acuff teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the art education program. Acuff’s research agenda and scholarship attends to critical multicultural art education, critical race theory in art education, and culturally responsive teaching and curriculum development. Acuff has art and art education teaching experience in both traditional and non-traditional classrooms. She has worked extensively with diverse populations of learners, including students with special needs (cognitive and physical), student who identify as LGBTQ and students from varying racial backgrounds and socioeconomic levels.

Dr. Joni Boyd Acuff received a BA in Photography and a BS in Art Education (and licensure in teaching art in K-12) from The Pennsylvania State University in 2005. In 2007 she obtained a MA in Community Based Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Her thesis research evaluated education curriculum in museum programs from youth.  Acuff attended The Ohio State University from 2008-2011 and received a PhD in Art Education. The dissertation, titled A Multicultural and Social Reconstructionist Approach to Art Education: A Framework for Social Justice through Art Curriculum, investigated the influences of a social justice art curriculum in a community center for youth who identify as lgbtq (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer).

Acuff has published her research in varying scholarly, peer-reviewed journals such as Art Education, Studies in Art Education, and International Journal of Education through Art. She also has a co-edited book with Dr. Laura Evans (UNT), titled Multiculturalism in Art Museums Today, published by Rowman & Littlefield.  Acuff sits on the review board for professional journals such as International Journal of Education and the Arts, and Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. She is the Associate Editor for Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education. Acuff is active in the National Art Education Association (NAEA), as she serves as the Higher Education Regional Director for the Western Region. From 2014-2017, Acuff served as chair of Committee on Multiethnic Concerns (COMC), a special interest group of the NAEA. Acuff received the 2017 Mary J. Rouse award, given by the Women’s Caucus of NAEA, for her early career success in the art education field.