SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 23, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Manisha Sharma, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Most recently serving as a professor of art education at the University of North Texas since 2021, Dr. Sharma has led a distinguished career in the academic realm. In her capacity, she has taught undergraduate and graduate students, managed curriculum development for K-12 licensure programs in art, and facilitated curriculum development and teaching partnerships with museums and community-based organizations. She is recognized for her success in building both social and cultural bonds through art, a testament to her commitment to using artistic practice to drive meaningful engagement with arts and cultural artifacts and socio-cultural norms.

From 2021 to 2024, Dr. Sharma held the dual roles of chair and professor of art education at the University of North Texas. During this period, she coordinated administrative tasks related to budgeting and recruitment while continuing her teaching and research activities, contributing to both innovation and long-term growth within the department.

Prior to starting her tenure at the University of North Texas, Dr. Sharma excelled as an associate professor at the University of Arizona from 2018 to 2021 — during which she served as chair of the school's Art and Visual Culture Education (AVCE) department — and as an assistant professor of art from 2012 to 2018. Beginning her academic career there as a target hire on a special grant, she focused on preparing artists to become licensed teachers, museum educators and community-based facilitators.

Dr. Sharma's earlier professional experience includes serving as a graduate teaching associate at The Ohio State University from 2009 to 2012, during which she contributed to undergraduate instruction in art and visual culture while completing her own doctoral studies. From 2006 to 2009, she worked as an art educator and curriculum coordinator at the American School Foundation in Mexico City, where she taught high school photography courses and IB art and fostered cross-cultural understanding through art and design. She also gained valuable international experience as an English as a second language and art educator at Nagoya International Junior & Senior High School in Japan from 2004 to 2006.

Alongside her primary roles, Dr. Sharma is an elected member of the Council for Policy Studies in Art Education and maintains active memberships with the International Society for Education through Art, the National Art Education Association and the India International Centre.

Hailing from an equally accomplished academic background, Dr. Sharma earned a Doctor of Philosophy in art education with a minor in comparative studies from The Ohio State University in 2012, a Master of Arts in art education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in applied art from College of Art, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi in 1998. Along with her education, she attributes her success to the exceptional mentorship she has received throughout her career — an influence she strives to share with the next generation — as well as the strong peers and students who have challenged her perspectives and inspired her growth.

Dr. Sharma's commitment extends beyond academia into civic engagement and advocacy efforts. She is a trained advocate for domestic violence victims and has facilitated art classes in shelters for survivors, demonstrating her devotion to driving social justice through creative practice. Regularly traveling to her native India, she also organizes social justice and awareness workshops for underprivileged children in underfunded schools, using art as a tool for empowerment.

Also known for her scholarly contributions as both a writer and editor, Dr. Sharma has excelled in editorial roles with several influential publications on topics such as inclusion, using one's imagination during times of uncertainty, and how educators can fuel social understanding through artistic practices and methods. Her work has appeared in major outlets like Studies in Art Education, and The Journal of Social Theory in Art Education and she is co-editor of the 2018 book "Makers, Crafters, Educators: Working for Cultural Change" and 2023's "Routledge Companion to Decolonizing Art, Craft, and Visual Culture Education."

Throughout every stage of her career, Dr. Sharma has been recognized for her impact on art education and beyond. In 2026, she received the National Art Education Association's Grigsby Award for diversity and inclusion work, a national honor affirming her exemplary contributions to art instruction and analysis. Earlier in her journey, she was nominated by her students for the Arizona Higher Educator of the Year Award in 2017, reflecting her service and ability to connect with young learners. In 2014, she became the inaugural recipient of the International Society of Education through the Arts dissertation award, an international distinction now given every four years for outstanding dissertations worldwide.

In her personal life, Dr. Sharma is happily married to Prashast Kachru, who works as a full-time studio artist. A proud speaker of multiple languages, she enjoys learning new forms of communication and connection, studying the impact of visual culture and pop culture on social imaginations, and engaging with historical trivia.

Determined to further her impact in the coming years, Dr. Sharma intends to expand her international consulting work with an interdisciplinary focus by leveraging her transnational roots to serve a broader global audience beyond domestic students and faculty. Her exceptional service, passion for inclusivity and future goals alike reflect her longstanding legacy of blending art education and greater human connection through everything she does.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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