A Lifetime of Arts from Alaska to Alabama

Meredith Cantor-Feller has always had a passion for the arts. It’s led her to cross the nation from Alaska to Alabama to pursue a career teaching her passion.

Cantor-Feller grew up in Anchorage, Alaska but finished her high school in Albertville, Alabama giving her strong roots in both areas. Over the next couple of years, her love for art and adventure lead her to the University of Alaska Anchorage for her undergraduate degree and to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for her graduate work. After graduation, her passion led her back to both Alabama and Alaska.

“There aren’t a lot of jobs in art education in higher education so you have to be willing to move around a lot to pursue your passion,” Cantor-Feller said. It’s exactly what she had been doing until a job came up at OCC.

She applied, interviewed and one month later was hired as Coordinator of the Photography program. Cantor-Feller served in that position until last June, when she was appointed Interim Dean of Visual and Performing Arts.

As the dean, she continues to ensure that the students at OCC get the same satisfaction out of studying and practicing art as she does. “We’re not a traditional program that can translate into a specific job. The programs in our division help students grow as an artist whatever their medium,” Cantor-Feller says. Cantor-Feller is proud to be leading the programs and hopes to continue to help students flourish in the arts for as long as she’s able.

Meredith Cantor-Feller is the Interim Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at Onondaga Community College. She has twin daughters who are the love of her life. Much of her spare time right now is dedicated to remodeling an old church into a home!