Elissa Ferguson, Ph.D.
Area(s) of Expertise: Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture, 19th Century European Art, Mesoamerican art
Overview
Dr. Elissa Ferguson received her M.A. in Art History with a concentration in Egyptian Art and Archaeology from the University of Memphis and her Ph.D. in Art History from Penn State University. While her research concentration is ancient Egyptian art, she has minor fields of study in 19th century European painting and ancient Mesoamerican art. Dr. Ferguson’s research has focused on using tomb art in conjunction with textual and archaeological evidence to reconstruct ancient Egyptian social structures, particularly those of elite families.
Dr. Ferguson’s teaching duties bring her into contact with a wide range of UNG students, from underclassmen taking general education courses to Art students completing their senior year. This provides a fantastic opportunity to share her passion for art history, to develop students’ analytical skills at a variety of levels, and to encourage independent research and inquiry. She is also the faculty advisory for the Art History minor.
Courses Taught
- Art Appreciation
- Introduction to Art History 1
- History of Illustration and Sequential Art
- History of Photography and Prints
- American Art History
Education
- Ph.D., Art History: Penn State University, State College, PA, 2019
- M.A., Art History: University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 2012
- B.A. with Honors, Art with a Concentration in Art History: Berry College, Rome, GA, 2010
Noteworthy
Selected Presentations
- "Puns, Language Games, and a Reexamination of Women’s Roles in Ancient Egyptian Tomb Art." Presented at SECAC 2020, Nov 30th - Dec 11, 2020.
- "Mothers and Wives: Women, Power, and Family in New Kingdom Tomb Art." Presented at The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) 68th Annual Conference, Apr 21st - 23rd.