In Memory of Sandra Charlson

Sandra Gayle Charlson made a deep impact on many people over her 20+ year career as a university instructor, from 1989-2014 at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and from 2015-2020 at Utah State University. She earned her undergraduate degree in art education and physical education at Iowa State University, and her Master’s degree in Art History at University of Iowa. With expertise in Native American and textile arts as well as museum studies, she introduced countless students to a hands-on, public-focused approach to the discipline. Her open-minded, socially conscious engagement with her material, her ready sense of humor, and her curiosity made her a well-loved teacher and prized colleague. A committed community activist and member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Sandy lived her humanitarian and feminist values to the fullest.

In her memory and to continue her tradition promoting art history as a platform for social justice, please join her colleagues and friends in raising funds for an Art History Scholarship to be awarded in honor of Sandra Charlson in the Department of Art and Design of the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University.