As a farm kid from the Great Plains, Katie Fisher grew up tied to the earth by proximity and occupation. That wind-whipped landscape embedded into her being and gave her a deep curiosity for the ways human activities transform and harm landscapes. Now a transplant to Dallas, Texas, she grows as many plants as her house will hold. Her formal training is in graphic design, illustration, and web design (BFA Concordia University), as well as poetic theology (MA Dallas Theological Seminary). Her career path has taken her through dairy farms, homeless shelters, international NGO work, and into academic research. As an arts-based researcher, she explores the connections between environmental crises, traumatic memory, and landscapes.
Education
Ph.D. in Philosophy — Visual and Performing Arts
May 2024, University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX
Dissertation Title: “Tracing Landscape Dismemberment Through Time: Mapping Sinkholes as Symptoms of Slow Violence Against Landscape Assemblages in Mexico City and New Orleans”
M.A. in Media Arts and Worship
May 2016, Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas,
B.F.A. Graphic Design, with Honors
December 2011, Concordia University | Seward, Nebraska
Selected Publications, Presentations, Research Initiatives, Exhibitions, Invited Talks, and Events
Publications
Dissertation Title: “Tracing Landscape Dismemberment Through Time: Mapping Sinkholes as Symptoms of Slow Violence Against Landscape Assemblages in Mexico City and New Orleans” (fix citation)
On Becoming, Art House Dallas. 2020. Editor.
On Belonging, Art House Dallas. 2019. Editor.
“Tomorrow Became Today” Fathom Magazine. 2018.
“The Whistle in My Lung” Fathom Magazine. 2017.
Research Initiatives, Field Work, & Teaching Experience
The Digital Studies of the Holocaust Research Project, Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies. Project Manager 2021-2024.
The Ackerman Center Podcast. 2021-2024. Co-producer, Editor.
Fieldwork Research Trips: Mexico City, 2024. New Orleans, 2023. New Orleans, 2022.
Online Teaching Certificate. UT Dallas Educational Technology Services. July 2022.
“History & Legacies of Trauma” University of Texas at Dallas. Fall 2021. Assisted in Course Development. 2021.
“Collaborative Practices in Art and Theology” Dallas Theological Seminary. Fall 2016. Co-taught.
Exhibitions and Creative Work
Tracing Landscape Dismemberment Through Time. University of Texas at Dallas. March 2024. Solo Show.
born blind «the drama of it all & the space between us». Dallas Theological Seminary. 2018. Solo Show.
Dust in My Mouth: Lenten Show. The Village Church Plano. 2018. Solo Show.
Dust in My Mouth: Ash Wednesday. Epiphany Church Dallas. 2018. Solo Show.
the day the clouds came down [rhythm of the daily]. Dallas Theological Seminary. 2014. Collaborative Project.
Conference Presentations
“Beyond Numbers: Connecting Threads of Remembrance in Data from Polish Holocaust Victims” The Annual Scholars’ Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches. Dallas, TX. March 2024. Co-presenter.
“Making Visible Historical Trauma: Counter-cartographies and Chronic Urban Trauma” International Association of Genocide Scholars. Barcelona, Spain. July 2023. Presenter.
“Digital Studies of the Dachau Concentration Camp” The Annual Scholars’ Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches. Dallas, TX. March 2023. Co-presenter.
“Ensuring a Traumatic Future: Hurricane Katrina and Historical Trauma in New Orleans” London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research. London, UK. February 2023. Presenter.
“Concrete Sarcophagus: The Sinking of Mexico City and Shriveling of Lake Texcoco” The International Network of Genocide Scholars. México City, Mexico. June 2022. Presenter.
“Integrating the Digital Humanities into Holocaust Studies” The Annual Scholars’ Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches. Dallas, TX. March 2022. Co-presenter.
“Lament in Sketches and Poetry” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies. Irving, TX. March 2018. Co-presenter.
Invited Talks and Events
“Tracing Landscape Dismemberment Through Time” Artist Talk. University of Texas at Dallas. April 2024. Speaker.
“Creative Voice & Storytelling for Artists Panel Discussion” Art of Business Workshop. Dallas, TX. April 2020. Moderator.
“Process & Practice of Making” Panel Discussion. Art House Dallas. Dallas, TX. 2019. Moderator.
“Arts Entrepreneurship Interview: James Hart (SMU)” Dallas Startup Week. Dallas, TX. April 2018. Moderator.
“Panel Discussion: Creative Community” Dallas Startup Week. April 2018. Moderator.