Dr. Tess McCoy earned her PhD in Art History, with an emphasis in Visual Cultures of the Americas and global contemporary art, from Florida State University in 2025. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies at NAU, where she teaches classes focusing on customary artistic practices of Indigenous communities in the US and Canada, global contemporary Indigenous art, and perspectives in Indigenous research. Her scholarly pursuits consider Indigenous cultural memory, stories and storytelling practices, environmental stewardship, activism, and visual sovereignty.