Moderators
Moderators
Following tradition, the moderators of the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium consist of the executive board of the College’s Art History Association (AHA), plus several students majoring or minoring in art history or related disciplines.
The Art History Association welcomes interested students from any discipline. They meet regularly to discuss art and art history, and to organize events. The original Student Symposium was the brainstorm of AHA’s co-presidents, Jonathan Birns and Liz Dragan, who piloted the first event in 2019.
Throughout the academic year, AHA also sponsors public lectures and virtual talks given by expert art historians, conservators, curators, legal experts, and more. These events are organized around themes selected by the club’s members. For the Spring 2024 Lecture Series, AHA invited three curators and scholars of Native American visual and material culture. All three work with collections of Native American art within a holistic, culturally-focused context that has brought all three into dialogue with Native tribes and individuals, including contemporary artists and practictioners, which fosters inclusion and oftentimes addresses the repatriation of museum objects to their tribal nations.
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Jocelyn Thornton
President, Art History Association
Jocelyn Thornton is a senior at SUNY New Paltz, majoring in Art History and minoring in Art Studio. Her favorite facet of art history is American art from the 17th to the 19th century. Jocelyn is the president of the Art History Association and this is her second year moderating for the symposium. She looks forward to hearing about everyone’s presentations!
Ben Kuhn
Social Media Coordinator, Art History Association
An English major with minors in Art History and Philosophy, Ben Kuhn is a senior at SUNY New Paltz. They are also the Social Media Coordinator for the Art History Association. Ben is delighted to be a moderator this year after presenting a talk last year during the 2023 SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium!
Anna DiPiazza
Secretary, Art History Association
Anna DiPiazza is a junior at SUNY New Paltz, majoring in Art History with a minor in History. She is the secretary of the Art History Association and assists in the campus’ Visual Resources Library. She is particularly interested in archival work, museum experiences, and American art. This is her first time moderating the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium, and she looks forward to learning more about what her fellow undergraduate art historians have been researching!
Sara Kronfeld
Treasurer, Art History Association
Sara Kronfeld is a freshman at SUNY New Paltz, where she is majoring in Art History. She serves as the treasurer of the Art History Association and will be a moderator at the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium for the first time. She is very excited to hear everyone’s talks!
Liv Martinez
Event Coordinator, Art History Association
Liv Martinez is very honored to be a moderator for the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium for the second year in a row! They are a sophomore pursuing a degree in Art Education, and they are also the Events Coordinator for the Art History Association, for which they served as the moderator for the organization’s spring 2024 lecture series focused on Native American visual and material culture.
Ella Rose Zombek
Council of Organizations Representative, Art History Association
Ella Rose Zombek is senior at SUNY New Paltz who is majoring in art history and minoring in art studio. This year, she joined the Art History Association as the Council of Organizations Representative. She is especially interested in Impressionism – especially Manet’s Olympia – and American architecture. She is serving as a symposium moderator for the first time this year, and she is very excited to hear about the exciting research of this year’s presenters.
Nicolette DiLapi
Nicolette DiLapi is a graduating senior at SUNY New Paltz majoring in Art History. She particularly loves ancient art and enjoys contextualizing works of art by learning about the cultures that produced them. When not in classes, she likes to spend time in nature and drawing illustrations.
Bridget Hermann
Bridget Hermann is a senior at SUNY New Paltz majoring in History and double-minoring in Art History and Anthropology. She is an active member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and is the treasurer of the Anthropology Club. She also works as a student assistant for the New York State Department of Transportation. She looks forward to participating in the Anthropology department’s summer field school in the Hudson Valley and then plans on attending graduate school focusing on either Anthropology or History. This is her first time moderating for the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium, and she is looking forward to learning a great deal from this year’s speakers!
Em Himes
Em Himes will graduate from SUNY New Paltz this spring with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History. Em aspires to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in museums and galleries. This is their first time moderating for the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium, and they are really looking forward to learning about our speakers’ research!
Jeffery Wendover
Jeffery Wendover is an Art History major, in which he enjoys an integration between his academic and personal life. He enjoys going to museums, galleries, and private collections to gain a better grasp on the infinite artistic spectrum. He plans on attending law school after completing his degree at SUNY New Paltz.
