Annie McFarland

Assistant Professor, Art Education

Annie McFarland, MS, ATR-BC, is a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist and Art Educator originally from Farmington Hills, MI. She earned an MS in art therapy from Florida State University in 2013 and has continued PhD coursework in art education and art therapy at Florida State University.  Her dissertation research focuses on the use of papermaking with veterans to address trauma, PTSD, and veteran to civilian readjustment. As an assistant professor of art education and visual arts therapy at WVU, McFarland is excited to continue research on papermaking in art therapy, teaching art education and therapeutic art coursework, and developing art therapy programming at WVU. 

McFarland has worked in a variety of settings, including: hospice care, inpatient psychiatric facilities, pediatric rehabilitation, memory care/dementia facilities, and various veteran settings. “Art therapy allows people to break down barriers and connect with their inner self in a more fluid and creative way, explains McFarland. “It allows people to explore things that they haven't been able to access before. In this way, it helps with healing and rebuilding after trauma, loss, and recovery.” In addition to her clinical work, she has also done research and training in art education and worked with art educators to help develop therapeutic art education approaches and culturally responsive teaching practices.