M.A., University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky.

B.A., Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D.

Born and raised in Aberdeen, S.D., Alexis Doerr graduated from Northern State University with a B.A. in art: graphic design specialization and an arts administration certificate. She earned her M.A. in art and art history with a concentration in critical and curatorial studies from the University of Louisville.

Past curatorial projects include “Dialogue As Art,” an affiliation of the nationwide For Freedoms 50 State Initiative. In collaboration with the NSU Art Department, it consisted of an exhibition and panel discussion featuring local artists and community art leaders. “Caprices: Wit & Whimsy” was comprised of prints from the Hite Art Institute print collection at the University of Louisville. She has also published exhibition reviews with “Ruckus,” a critical art review based in Louisville, Ky.

Her research focuses on how the social, economic and physical structures of place influence the art-making process and produce local art styles. This derives from her interest in networking with artists, fostering opportunities for art education, and cultivating community engagement with arts and culture.

Ms. Kovach joined NSU in 2018 as a professional academic advisor. She has worked in various areas within higher education since 2006, and found her greatest bliss helping students find their academic niche and succeed. Ms. Kovach earned a B.A. in forensic and biological anthropology and an M.S. in leadership for higher education. She has presented her research on peer mentorship, student retention, and first-year initiatives at the international ACPA conference, and has served in leadership roles within a number of professional organizations.