Agriculture professor bridges disciplines through OSU Museum of Art experience

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Media Contact: Amy Juarez | OSU Museum of Art Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2783 | amyjuar@okstate.edu

When Dr. Mike Finnegan, a faculty member in Oklahoma State University’s Ferguson College of Agriculture, brought his class to the OSU Museum of Art this semester, it marked a meaningful step toward connecting art and agriculture through shared human experiences.

Finnegan first attended “Step across this line’s” opening reception on Sept. 4, where he heard the curator discuss themes of borders, land and ownership. That’s when he saw the museum as an opportunity to take learning outside the classroom. 

Inspired by the exhibition’s message, Finnegan collaborated with Carla Shelton, OSU Museum of Art’s associate director, to organize a guided tour for his students from the Agricultural Leadership in a Multicultural Society course. He said the group experience deepened classroom discussions about empathy, perspective and leadership. 

“My visit to 'Step across this line' opened my eyes to new perspectives on borders, culture and identity. Through the artwork, I learned that borders are not just physical but also cultural, ethical and symbolic,” said Kymberlee Jordan, an OSU student. “I was able to relate the course contents to this visit and tie it into my personal and academic journey.”

For Finnegan, the museum’s willingness to partner with faculty across disciplines demonstrates its importance as an educational resource for the entire OSU community.

“The OSU Museum of Art is an essential extension of campus learning,” he said. “It gives students access to new stories, mediums and perspectives they might not encounter otherwise. I hope to make museum visits a regular part of my classes each semester.”

Finnegan said guided tours, in particular, enhance understanding by sparking collaboration and reflection.

“Life is a collaborative conversation,” he said. "A guided tour helps students across their own metaphorical borders to examine the complexity of agritourism, assimilation, colonialism, ethnocentrism and the displacement of people over land rights while also recognizing the humanity and resiliency of people through new lenses."   

The OSU Museum of Art continues to build partnerships across disciplines, offering tours, exhibitions and programs that connect art to the broader human experience.

To learn more about this exhibition or to schedule a tour with the OSU Museum of Art, visit the  website.

Story By: Grace Kraeer | gkraeer@okstate.edu