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Jayne Matlack Whitaker joined the visual arts faculty at the University of Dayton in 1993, upon completion of her graduate work at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Prior to attending graduate school Jayne worked as a professional art director/graphic designer in New York City for eight years in companies ranging from small design firms to larger corporate in-house promotional art departments. She taught courses in graphic design and visual communication design history.

Faculty perspective

"My undergraduate experience in visual communications, a liberal arts program within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware, fully prepared me for the professional world of graphic design. It impressed upon me the importance of a well-rounded and diversified undergraduate experience and greatly influenced my decision to accept a faculty position at the University of Dayton ten years later. My current creative research reflects non-client, self-authored work intended for exhibition. Beginning in 1995, the work began to investigate the changing roles of women, particularly their role in the kitchen and how the description, preparation, and service of food items can act as metaphor for the roles women play and the perception of those roles within society. My most recent sabbatical and current work investigate how these notions play and have played a significant role in a 19th century family homestead due to be sold and demolished."

Research interests

• Domestic roles and ritual
• Food and household etiquette
• Collage and photomontage
• Artists books
• Visual communication design history