Sonia Dixon

Why FSU?

The Department of Art History is a highly regarded program and offers MA programs in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies (MCHS) and Art History. I first chose MCHS since the program combined graduate seminars and a year-long internship at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. I returned to the department for my PhD due to the brilliant faculty and the abundant resources at the department, library, and university levels.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I initially chose to pursue a graduate degree to work in the museum field. I decided to pursue a PhD because I enjoy the research and wanted to teach at the college level. I soon learned the endless number of possibilities that I could do with the skill sets, academic knowledge, and other opportunities that come along with graduate school within the field of Art History.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research reexamines how previous scholarship defined a symbol, the chi-rho. The implications of solely relying on a narrow interpretation of this symbol prevents a fuller understanding of life during the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. I am interested in the complexity of identity, messaging, and interpretation during this period. My dissertation seeks to push past generally accepted interpretations to allow for additional readings.

Describe an aspect of your military service that is especially memorable or exceptional

My current military position as a Heritage and Preservation Officer means a lot to me. This job was initially created during WWII to recover works of art stolen by the Nazis. I first learned about the Monuments Men and Women in a seminar while I was in the MCHS program. It is fulfilling to blend together my Army, cultural heritage, and art history passion, training, and knowledge.

Tell us how your military service provided skills and experiences that you were able to apply to your graduate studies

My military service drives my mission-focused mindset when given tasks in graduate school. It also helps me more seamlessly shift if plan a does not work. We are trained to always have contingency plans.

Career aspirations

I seek a comprehensive career incorporating research, learning, and educating others about cultural heritage, art history, and their impact in the world.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Graduate school is challenging for many reasons and requires sacrifice along the way. As a first-generation college student and the first in my family to pursue a graduate degree, I strongly advise you to think about your ‘why’ before committing to it. Be okay with being uncomfortable. Graduate school should be a time of growth—intellectually and personally.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I was the first cohort of the William Sanders Scarborough Fellowship at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, which is named after the magnificent Black classical scholar. This fellowship allowed me to study and research in Greece.

I have two publications: “Reexamining Syncretism in Late Antique Iconography of a Vault Mosaic” in Athanor 38 and “The Question of Authenticity: Two Ethiopian Icons,” L. Jones and B. Hostetler Eds. Special issue of Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art & Architecture 8/1. I recently presented a paper at my first international conference, the 24th International Congress of Byzantine Studies: Byzantium - Bridge Between Worlds in Venice, Italy.

In 2020, I presented with my colleagues at DIRECTO’s 3rd Annual Symposium on Diversity & Inclusion in Research & Teaching. During our session “Beyond Theory: Decolonized Practices for the Cultural Heritage and Humanities Classroom,” I focused on a more equitable teaching style.