Rate My Professor Anna Embree

Anna Embree, Ph.D., serves as Professor and Book Arts Coordinator in the School of Library and Information Studies, College of Communication & Information Sciences, at the University of Alabama. In 2026, she was named Distinguished Teaching Professor by the University of Alabama System, honoring her nationally and internationally recognized contributions to book arts education. Her innovative pedagogy, commitment to student mentorship, and leadership in the field demonstrate excellence in both undergraduate and graduate instruction. Embree's career at the University of Alabama encompasses teaching, coordination of the Book Arts Program, and fostering studio practice that integrates craft scholarship with material inquiry.

Embree's creative and scholarly work focuses on the physical and structural qualities of the book as an object, emphasizing tactile and material dimensions, the relationship between concept, form, and craftsmanship, hand processes, material experimentation, and structural innovation. She has collaborated with printers and papermakers to create limited-edition handmade books, with her work widely exhibited and contributing to national conversations in book arts and fine press practice. Key publications include "Bookcraft Education: A Panel Presentation" (2018), "An Overview of Fibers, Yarns, and Textiles for the Book Artist" (2008), "Bookcraft Education" (2007), "Physical Properties of Decorative Japanese Book Cloths" (2007), and "Colorfastness to Light of Decorative Japanese Book Cloths" (2007). As Book Arts Coordinator, she guides students in developing technical skills, material sensitivity, and critical engagement with the book as an art form, underscoring the ongoing relevance of traditional techniques in contemporary artistic and scholarly contexts.