Ryan Kirkpatrick is an assistant professor in the School of Art. He specializes in art therapy, specifically exploring how personal disclosure can transform creative responses into shared, idea-driven art. He integrates mental health initiatives with contemporary art methodologies to address broader issues and experiences in mental health. As a therapist, Kirkpatrick has worked at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, and Thresholds, Chicago, Illinois. He received his MFA in interdisciplinary studio art from the San Francisco Art Institute.