Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Friends of the Visual Arts, a community organization supporting East Texas arts and art students through fundraising, has established a new scholarship honoring Dr. Jill Carrington, retiring professor of art history at SFA, and her distinguished career as an art historian, educator and dedicated supporter of the organization.
Carrington joined SFA’s School of Art in 1989 as an assistant professor of art history. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she advanced to associate professor in 1996 and was promoted to full professor in 2013. She will retire in May, leaving a lasting legacy of excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.
“Getting to know so many students has been the most meaningful part of this experience, and they are what I’ll miss most,” Carrington said. “This scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduate student in art, helping to support the cost of tuition and fees.”
Holding a Doctor of Philosophy in humanities, Carrington specializes in 15th- and 16th-century Italian Renaissance sculpture. She has taught a wide range of courses, including “Italian Renaissance Art,” “Northern Renaissance Art,” “Baroque Art,” “Greek and Roman Art,” “Imaging the Body” and “Art History” I and II.
Throughout her tenure, Carrington has emphasized experiential learning by creating opportunities for students to engage directly with significant works of art. She has led and organized numerous educational trips to major cultural destinations, including Italy, New York City, Austin, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. These experiences allow students to study works they encounter in the classroom in person, deepening their understanding of art history.
Carrington has also played an active role in the Friends of the Visual Arts, serving as a faculty representative on the organization’s board and supporting its mission through service and engagement.
The Friends of the Visual Arts often establishes scholarships in honor of retiring School of Art faculty members who have made significant contributions to the organization and its fundraising efforts. Through this scholarship, Carrington’s dedication to art history, education and student enrichment will continue to support future generations of SFA students.
To learn more about the Friends of the Visual Arts, visit gosfa.com/fva.