Honors Alumni Voices: Annette Becker

"Growing up in rural western Kansas, the University of Kansas felt awe inspiring — there were more students in my art history survey course than in my entire high school! Nunemaker's cozy lower level served as a classroom for Dr. Alan Cigler’s honors Intro to U.S. Politics. The welcoming environment, smaller class size, and mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen set me at ease, and in that ease I started finding my voice as a scholar. That class transformed me: Dr. Cigler encouraged conversation, challenged our ideas, and spurred us to think deeper, and his teaching in the University Honors Program inspires how I lead classes and mentor students today."

Annette Becker is curator and director of the Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas, where she leads research, access initiatives, academic programming, and exhibitions connecting historic fashion with contemporary audiences. She previously gained professional experience across U.S. cultural institutions, including the Spencer Museum of Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Speed Art Museum, Historic Deerfield, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and Kentucky Shakespeare. She earned an M.A. in art history and a Ph.D. in history 2025, from UNT, specializing in fashion, material culture, and museology.