Published on July 24, 2026

By: Isabella Trost

After graduating from the University of Missouri in May 2025 with a PhD in Visual Studies with an emphasis in American Art History, Dr. Audrey Florey uses skills learned at the Writing Center to surround herself with art.  

As a Curatorial Assistant of American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Florey supports the museum by helping in exhibition and publication development. 

“I edit exhibition catalogs that accompany our major art exhibitions, write interpretative materials for exhibitions and permanent collection galleries and collaborate with the Curator to develop exhibitions,” Florey said. “I also conduct primary and secondary research on artworks we’ve acquired as gifts or purchases, which includes writing research reports. To accomplish this work, I collaborate cross-departmentally with Philanthropy, Learning and Interpretation, Design and Installation and Registration.” 

In her role, Florey still uses the knowledge and skills built during her time as a writing tutor and Writing Center Graduate Administrative Writing Fellow, or “GRAdmin.” Florey worked at the Writing Center for five years, starting as a tutor and eventually joining the inaugural class of GRAdmins.  

As one of the first GRAdmins, Florey supported the Writing Center in a more administrative role, working closely with Dr. Aaron Harms and Dr. Bailey Boyd on projects and tutor management. 

“Excel spreadsheets and pivot tables, managing multiple projects and people at once, helping others with their writing and communicating ideas and my own writing—these are all fundamental to my job today and are skills I developed at the Writing Center,” Florey said. 

Florey, however, did not just gain professional and academic experiences at the Writing Center; the connections made at the Writing Center had the biggest effect. 

“More than anything else, the people at the Writing Center had the biggest impact on me,” Florey said. “I built a community [of friendships with fellow tutors] that I still have today.” 

The friendships and mentorship relationships Florey built during her time at the Writing Center continue to shape her today, as she currently builds community in a new role. She sees the Writing Center style of leadership show up in her personal leadership style by showing up to meetings with an open mind for collaboration and new perspectives. 

“Writing Center leadership demonstrated how to build a strong community by being empathetic and kind [while still prompting] academic and professional rigor and [holding] their tutors to those standards,” Florey said. “These things are not mutually exclusive, and I know how to build this type of environment because of the Writing Center leadership. They fostered an environment where I could ask the hard questions and I wasn’t expected to have all of the answers either; it was an environment conducive to collaborative learning and growth where leadership and tutors equally had a voice that was felt and seen.” 

Starting as a secondary art teacher before going to Mizzou for graduate school, she originally saw herself working in higher education for her career. 

Her desire to pursue a teaching career in higher education changed as she re-entered the art world through internships, assistantships and curation roles at Mizzou and in the Columbia community.  

“I felt that curating allowed me to combine education and art historical research, but it also fulfilled my creative desires because I can work on exhibition design,” Florey said. “I would advise anyone who is looking to enter the museum field to pursue tangible experiences through internships, volunteering, fellowships, etc. I found that it is difficult to breakthrough this market, and internships and work experiences can set you apart from other candidates.” 

While originally different than her original destination, Florey loves her current role as a Curatorial Assistant, the uniqueness of her work and the fact that she is constantly surrounded by art. 

“Every day is different,” Florey said. “Some days I’m working at my desk on object research and writing, but others I’m sitting with community members looking at their art at our Consult-a-Curator event. It never gets old being able to take a break from my desk to walk around the museum and look at art; I’m surrounded by it every day, and I love it.” 

As a recent graduate, Florey’s advice resonates clearly with those finalizing their college chapters and starting professional careers. 

“Trust your gut and don’t doubt yourself. You’re far more capable than you (or others) believe,” Florey said. “Build your network. Make yourself uncomfortable by putting yourself in social, professional and academic situations where you might not always feel comfortable at first. Also, ask questions; a question is never too large or small and can benefit you in multiple ways.”