Robert Derr is a professor of art and joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) as Chair of the Art & Art History Department, then led the formation of the School of Art, Art History & Design as the first director. As director, he hurdled an 80% reduction to the funding model and $180K budget shortfall, implemented design BA and BFA programs, managed the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) reaccreditation noncompliance, opened the MFA graduate program committees to all unit faculty, managed the unit’s construction oversight of $2M Woods Art Building ADA required renovation, fundraised $38K for programs, received $34K in grants to host the Mid-America College Art Association Conference and support a traveling exhibition, Nebraska Touring showcasing studio art, art history, and design. Prior to UNL, he taught in the Department of Art at The Ohio State University for twelve years, where he also served as undergraduate chair and photography area coordinator. Robert received his MFA in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design and BFA in photography from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. He also studied at the Photography Institute National Graduate Seminar, New York University, and interned at the Museum of Modern Art, Rhode Island Senate, and Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati.

Robert’s research has expanded his photographic eye to also include performance art, video, and installation. With exhibitions since 1991, and performances beginning 2003, his works continue to be extensively exhibited, performed, and funded nationally and internationally, and are held in many permanent collections. Some recent works include Exchange & Flow at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Sound of Days for the Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center. His interest in community projects led him to develop Global Frequencies, Lincoln PoPS, Play on P Street for which he fundraised over $78K, supported by the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, various foundations, and local businesses. The idea for Global Frequencies was born from several informal conversations with the City of Lincoln mayor. He has also organized panels such as Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something for the College Art Association (CAA), and a symposium and lecture series held at the Wexner Center for the Arts including, Technology Expanding the Horizon: A Reinterpretation & Investigation of the Landscape co-awarded $57K, brought to campus artists, scholars, scientists, activists, and designers researching at the nexus of art and technology, and Reconfigured Vision: Technology Expanding Art Peripherals awarded $48K, included practitioners in art, architecture, new media, and film exploring concepts of vision, both supported by The Battelle Endowment for Technology and Human Affairs. He actively serves NASAD as an external program reviewer, consults as an academic program reviewer, serves on the New Media Caucus Board of Directors, and has served CAA and the Nebraska Arts Council. Robert is a fellow of the Institute for American Universities and The American College of the Mediterranean, Aix-en-Provence, France.