Elena “Ellie” FitzPatrick Sifford ’01 is an Associate Professor of Art History at Muhlenberg College, where her research investigates the depiction of Africans in the visual culture of colonial Mexico and Peru, among other topics. She graduated from Oberlin College and holds a Ph.D. in Art History from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Prior to joining the Muhlenberg faculty, she taught at Louisiana State University, Pratt Institute and Lehman College, CUNY. Ellie is a member of the College Art Association, the Association for Latin American Art and the Renaissance Society of America and is active in efforts to address issues of diversity and inclusion in the field of art history. She lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
*Published in the 2022 Alumnae Bulletin
What was it about art history that first attracted you? Can you pinpoint a time when your interest began?
I participated in weekend museum programming at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when I was in elementary school. I remember the Met’s education room. I had a clipboard and I’d go to the galleries and sketch. Sometimes we had scavenger hunts. I loved being in the museum and learning about world cultures through the visual arts.
How would you characterize your career thus far?
While studying art history at Oberlin, I was not sure if I wanted to pursue academia or museum work. I interned at the Studio Museum in Harlem, which was an enlightening experience, one that I enjoyed but also helped me to realize that I preferred teaching and research. I went on to pursue my doctorate, after which I was an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University for four years, followed by my current appointment at Muhlenberg College, where I have been for four years.
Can you elaborate on your specific areas of expertise?
I research the visual arts of colonial Latin America, particularly in Mexico but also Panama, Ecuador and Peru. I have special interest in issues of cross-cultural exchange and depictions of people of African descent in Spanish colonial visual culture. I also research and write on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the wider field of art history and museums. Art history is still seen as an elitist, exclusive discipline, and I intend to be part of the change. Art history is for everyone!
What do you find most rewarding about your work at Muhlenberg?
Muhlenberg has been great! I recently received tenure and was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. I am one of two art historians in the Art Department. The classes are small, and I have been able to get to know my students. I am also fortunate to have very supportive colleagues. The best part of the job is sharing my love of the visual arts with students. Several of my students who recently graduated are currently pursuing careers in the arts, and I love watching and supporting them in their post-college careers. Since receiving tenure, I am continuing my research and continue to publish extensively.
For how long were you at Chapin?
I came to Chapin in seventh grade from The Anderson School, a gifted and talented public school. It was a great school, but Chapin was a radically different educational experience. When I took the private school test, my mom said I should go to Chapin, Brearley, or Spence. Fortunately, I got in! I remember the day I came to visit. The school was amazing. Mrs. Gilmor interviewed me, and everyone was really nice. The classes were small, and the building was impressive. The education at Chapin was rigorous and at times I struggled, especially in math and science classes. Fortunately, the teachers were always available for extra help. Chapin was a wonderful experience and became almost a home away from home. Several of my classmates are still some of my closest friends.
Are there any meaningful experiences you wish to share from your Chapin years? What particular skills or interests (academic, artistic, social, emotional) did Chapin help foster?
I took art classes with Mr. Neil who was so awesome. I never considered myself a skilled artist, but I loved his class. I particularly remember learning about academic traditions and still life. We watched “Citizen Kane” in his class and practiced film criticism. Mr. Neil treated us with such professionalism. In senior year we could choose art history or AP European history. I was already interested in art history, so I took Mrs. Naitove’s class. She was such a character, so hilarious. She really made art history fun, and her class inspired me to pursue art history. I also have to credit teachers like Mr. Chapman, Ms. Pergam, Mrs. Rinden, Mrs. Putnam, and Ms. Nolon for helping me to improve as a writer, skills that I use extensively to this day.
In what ways do you feel Chapin prepared you for college, graduate school, and the adult world?
One of my science teachers told us that when we got to college the academics would be easy and that we would be over prepared. That was absolutely, 100-percent correct. I felt so confident in my college classes, capable of writing papers and speaking up in class. Chapin emphasized and normalized that. In my Introduction to Philosophy class at Oberlin, I was the only girl who spoke up. It was normal for me. I felt empowered. There was a sense of pride instilled in being a Chapin girl, and that self-assurance, sophistication and poise are things I have carried with me into the world.
Can you talk about your post-Chapin path, including higher education and beyond?
I went to Oberlin, which was an incredible experience. It has one of the best university museums in the country, and the faculty taught courses designed around the collection. Several of my courses met weekly in the museum. I ended up double-majoring in African American studies and art history. African American studies was a subject of interest to me because of my own background and a desire to learn more. One of my art history professors, Dr. Pat Mathews, who sadly passed away in 2018, encouraged me to pursue a doctorate. Looking back, I wish I had stayed in touch with her in the subsequent years. More recently, I have been in touch with some of my professors at Oberlin to thank them. One of the best things about a small liberal arts college is the connections fostered with the professors – it really demystifies academia. Oberlin was a pathway for me into the professoriate, paved by the amazing faculty I was fortunate to work with and learn from.
I got into the CUNY Graduate Center at a time when it was not well known in art history, but it has since become one of the premier art history programs, particularly in modern and contemporary art. Dr. Eloise Quinoñes-Keber was my advisor. She is an expert in Pre-Columbian and colonial art of Mexico. I had the chance early on in grad school to travel to and present with her at a conference in Mexico City. The Graduate Center was such a cool experience. I was 22 when I got there. Other students were five to 15 years older than me and many of them had already worked in museums. We were a tight knit group and I learned a lot. It took eight years from a B.A. to get my doctorate.
What other aspects of your life and career have played a role in who you are today?
Family is everything to me. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister. My dad, Richard, was a professor of management at Manhattan College. He encouraged me to pursue art history and was a constant source of support and mentorship. He passed away in July 2021, and I am very grateful that I had a chance to thank him because I never would have made it through the many trials and tribulations of a doctoral program and life on the tenure track without him. My mom, Verna, is an immigrant from Panama. She is retired now, but she is still the hardest working person I know and the most generous, caring person I know. I strive to live up to her example every day.
What advice would you give to current Chapin students or young alums who may be interested in pursuing a career in higher education, museums/galleries, or a related discipline? How might you consider yourself a role model for young people?
Do your research and take advantage of networking opportunities. Talk to people, and don’t be afraid to cold call or email or to ask for introductions. Be bold about making connections. And only get a doctorate if you love research. There are many other avenues in art history like galleries, museums and auction houses. Be open minded about your areas of interest. Also, feel free to contact me. I am always open to speaking to alums and helping however I can.
How do you like to relax and decompress? Or, how do you like to challenge yourself?
I like yoga and soccer. I walk and hike a lot. There are a lot of great trails near me. I also like to challenge myself to try new things. I recently learned how to surf. My greatest joy is being a mother.