Tori Purcell has been named chair of the Department of Photography within Pratt Institute’s School of Art. A passionate educator and administrative leader, Purcell has served as assistant chair of the Photography Department at Pratt for the past 16 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on departmental experience to her new position. She will assume the role on July 1, 2026, succeeding Shannon Ebner, who is stepping down to join Pratt’s faculty.
“Tori has been an indispensable member of the Photography Department and we are thrilled to welcome her into this new chapter as chair,” said Dean of the School of Art Jorge Oliver. “In her work, Tori has continuously demonstrated thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to broadening perspectives and pedagogical approaches. I am confident that she will guide the department successfully into its next phase, and look forward to supporting her in this role.”
As chair, Purcell will oversee approximately 25 faculty and 140 students. This fall, she will lead the launch of an innovative new curriculum, Being with Photography, which she co-developed with departmental faculty. The new curriculum reimagines the first-year photographic experience, bringing together hybrid technologies in a community-oriented learning environment.
Purcell first joined Pratt in 2010 as assistant chair of photography and visiting associate professor. Since then, she has collaborated on logistical, administrative, and pedagogical efforts to ensure the smooth operation of the department. During her tenure as assistant chair, Purcell dedicated large efforts toward curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and customized student advising. She has taught a range of courses at all levels of the BFA degree, including the development of a specialized elective course, Cuba Through the Lens, which includes a short-term travel component to Havana, where students collaborate with art students in Cuba. In 2021–22, she served as a Faculty Fellow at Pratt’s Center for Teaching and Learning, where she led a series of discussions around her research topic, “Decentering the frame: expanded ways of knowing,” which aimed to foster more inclusive classroom communities.
Purcell’s photography practice explores rituals and what they say about the people who perform them—from the everyday tasks of parenting to the creation of religious shrines. Her work makes comparisons between Cuba and the American South, drawing from her own familial roots, having grown up in rural Virginia and marrying into a Cuban family.
“I see photography as a vehicle to think about the world. Both in my individual classroom and in the collective curriculum that we have built together, I strive to help students create an internal compass that enables them to realize their creative projects and also become thoughtful, engaged participants in the world,” said Purcell. “I’ve always prioritized being an accessible, hands-on member of the community, and I look forward to continuing this work as chair—fostering strong relationships, launching new initiatives, mentoring students and faculty, and problem-solving with an abundance of care.”
Purcell has taught at Queensborough Community College, Watkins College of Art and Design, and Belmont University. She has exhibited her work at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (New Orleans, LA), NARS Foundation (Brooklyn, NY), and Page Bond Gallery (Richmond, VA), among other venues.
Purcell holds a BA in Sociology from Vanderbilt University and an MFA in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design.