Speakers

Born in Saint Joseph, Missouri, Douglas joined the U.S. Army at age seventeen. The G.I. Bill enabled him to complete his BFA in Drawing (Missouri State University) and a Post-Baccalaureate program in Painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA). He earned an MFA in Sculpture from Boston University (BU), where he later returned as an assistant professor, teaching drawing and sculpture for six years. He has previously worked as a Research Assistant with Professor Dr. Dan Lovallo, researching creativity and innovation at the Wharton School of Business and the University of Sydney Business School.

Since 2007, he has served as Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center (Norman, Oklahoma). He is also an arts education and non-profit consultant and currently serves on the Norman Public Arts Board. Using his experience as an artist, professor and creativity researcher, Douglas works to further arts education and opportunities across Oklahoma.

As an artist, Douglas is primarily a draftsman and sculptor, exhibiting nationally and internationally. He was recently selected as a recipient of the O. Gail Poole Memorial Travel Fund and as one of three exhibiting artists for the Norman Arts Council’s Cultural Connections program in Arezzo, Italy, for the ongoing production of his SCAPES series of relief sculptures.