Education
Photo: Noel McCleaf © 2017
Education & Academic Positions:
Susan kae Grant received an MFA in Photography and Book Arts from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1979 and is a member of the Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She held the position of instructor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (1979-1981) where she taught photography and established the Book Art facility. She held summer visiting artist Instructor positions at The University of New Mexico-Albuquerque (1978), S.U.N.Y Buffalo (1982) and The Chicago Art Institute (1986 & 1987).
From 1981-2017 she held a tenure track position at Texas Woman’s University, established the graduate program in Photography and served as Cornaro Professor and Head of Photography. In the fall of 2017 she left the academic life at Texas Woman’s University to pursue life as a full-time studio artist.
During her tenure at Texas Woman’s University, Grant established the Book Art and Papermaking Programs (1983) with Prof. Corky Stuckenbruck. In 1994, under her direction, the student-run photography group PAC (Photographic Artists Coalition) was founded with the mission to empower photography students in fostering networking and leadership skills and to gain awareness and support the contributions of women in photography. In 2001, under Grant’s guidance, the Joyce Elaine Grant National Exhibition and Endowment was established by Christine Shank and a small group of graduate students and named in memory of her mother. Exhibition proceeds from 2001-2017 funded the endowment, which supports photography scholarships for future graduate students in the Department of Visual Arts.
Workshops:
Grant is on the staff of the International Center of photography (NYC) where she has taught photographic bookmaking workshops each spring since 1993. Throughout her career she has taught workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Ryerson University (Toronto), Oakland University, University of Colorado, Denver, Oklahoma Arts Institute, Visual Studies Workshop (Rochester), Arizona State University (Tempe), Athenaeum Museum (Lajolla), Ringling School of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts (San Diego), Anchorage Museum of Art, Chicago Center for Book & Paper Arts (Columbia College), The Light Factory, Texas Tech University, Houston Center for Photography, Southwest Craft Center (San Antonio), The San Antonio Art Institute, Center for Creative Studies (Detroit), University of Illinois (Urbana-Champagne).
Teaching Awards:
• “Cornaro Professor”
Texas Woman’s University (2016)
• “Honored Educator”
National SPE (2014)
• “Mentor of the Year”
Women of Visionary Influence (2014)
• “Honored Educator”
South Central Regional SPE (2007)
• “TWU Redbud Award” Advisor to
student organization, P.A.C. (2007)
• “Excellence in PhotoTeaching”
Santa Fe Center for Photo (2004)
• “Freestyle Crystal Apple Award”
SPE (2003 & 2005)
• “Who’s Who In Fine Arts Higher
Education”, Academic Keys (2005)
• “Mary Mason Lyon Junior Faculty
Award”, TWU (1996)
.