Dr. Marsha Macdowell

Biography

Marsha MacDowell is a Professor and Curator at Michigan State University's Department of Art, History, Design. She earned her B.F.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. from Michigan State University and has been employed at the university since 1977. Her professional background includes extensive curatorial work and serving as the founding director of the Great Lakes Folk Festival. Her teaching encompasses art history courses, and she played a pivotal role in co-founding the MSU Museum Studies program. MacDowell has curated over 30 exhibitions, collaborating with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum. Her current research focuses on the documentation and analysis of traditional material culture, particularly involving Hmong-Americans, Native Americans, and women. She has worked on significant projects such as the Quilt Index, funded by NEH and IMLS, and the South African Quilt History Project. Additionally, MacDowell contributes to various professional organizations, including the American Folklore Society and the Museum Anthropology editorial board. Her scholarship integrates interdisciplinary methods with a focus on community-oriented educational resources and public arts policies.

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