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To finance her education at Northwestern University, Betha Whitlow, currently the curator of visual resources and a lecturer in art history within Arts & Sciences, held various jobs including bartender, babysitter, tutor, and front-desk assistant.

Now serving as the director of the Digital Art History Lab (DAHL) at Washington University in St. Louis, Whitlow is dedicated to offering her students work experiences that are both rewarding and adequately compensated. She aspires for the same opportunities for her WashU colleagues. While on the Danforth Staff Council, she effectively advocated for parental leave.

“One aspect I truly appreciate about being part of the art history department is that my own professional growth is a small yet significant component of my work responsibilities, which is quite rare for staff,” Whitlow stated. “I’ve consistently motivated fellow staff members to pursue opportunities for learning and self-improvement while aiming to provide student workers with a rewarding work environment that provides them with valuable skills.”

Having grown up in a modest town in east-central Illinois, Whitlow never envisioned herself at a prestigious institution like Northwestern. However, the encouragement from her father, an English professor at Eastern Illinois University, and her peers ignited her aspirations to reach higher goals.

“In a small-town school, people often refrain from dreaming big,” Whitlow remarked. “It was a significant achievement if anyone attended the University of Illinois. Yet, I found myself among a unique group of high-achieving individuals, and we motivated each other immensely.”

After completing her undergraduate studies, Whitlow relocated to St. Louis, securing a position as a substitute teacher in the Clayton and Ladue school districts, along with a part-time role as a curatorial researcher at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

She opted to further her education at WashU for two main reasons. First: The chance to learn from Angela Miller, a professor of art history and archaeology and a prominent scholar in American art and visual cultures. Second: the financial support.

“WashU truly stepped up for me, offering a full fellowship, which was quite unusual for an MA student,” remarked Whitlow, who obtained her master’s in art history and archaeology in 1995.

Whitlow remained at the university as a slide curator, the individual art history professors would approach whenever they needed images of iconic artworks for their presentations. She loved her role so much that she made it no longer necessary.

“A significant demand for visual resources existed in the classroom, and I realized it was logical to digitize these assets, allowing everyone access,” Whitlow shared.

This endeavor eventually evolved into the current iteration of the DAHL, which was formally established in 2021.

The DAHL equips students with training in digital humanities and provides faculty with technical support. It also spearheads the outreach initiatives of the Department of Art History and Archaeology and conducts workshops, including “for students, by students” programs that instruct students on creating digital visualizations, maps, timelines, reconstructions, and other visual materials.

“Last year, we had two students in the DAHL who possessed excellent technical skills, as well as a solid understanding of how to apply them in humanistic research settings,” Whitlow mentioned. “We encouraged them to independently develop workshops and share them with their peers. It’s essential for me to recognize my students’ abilities, and it’s also important to remember that, in some scenarios, students might feel more at ease learning from their peers rather than from faculty.”

For the staff comprising the workforce, the DAHL offers invaluable professional experience, a consistent income, and a network of friends. For Whitlow, the most vital aspect of leading the DAHL is engaging her students at their level.

“I perceive myself not merely as a manager, but as a teammate, and it’s my role to support the team,” Whitlow remarked. “I wish I had received that kind of management, and much of my approach to overseeing others is informed by some of the less positive management experiences I encountered earlier in my career.”

Whitlow has received both the WashU Unsung Hero and WashU Graduate Student Senate Outstanding Staff Award, which both honor staff members for their contributions on campus and engagement with students. For Whitlow, connecting with students both as a supervisor and an educator in her digital humanities course “The Digital Art Historian” brings a refreshing viewpoint to her work.

“Undergraduate students are quite fearless when it comes to new methods, especially in the realm of digital humanities,” Whitlow observed. “It serves as a reminder for me to think creatively, especially considering I no longer maintain a beginner’s mindset.”

Bristol Hough, AB ’24 and a former student of the Digital Art History Lab, mentioned that she and Whitlow initially connected over their similar experiences as lower-income midwestern students attending a prestigious private university.

Hough, who currently works in philanthropy, stated that Whitlow assisted her in securing her first job after graduation and acted as a reference. Hough continues to meet with Whitlow, whether for hiking or dining together, and attributes her as an essential figure to whom she turns for guidance.

“It’s crucial for students to have adult mentors who remain neutral, not parents or people who grade their papers,” Hough emphasized. “For me, Betha embodies that role. Regardless of what I’m facing, whether it pertains to a job change, finding a place to live, handling relationships, or even travel, she’s always someone I can consult for guidance. It’s evident she genuinely cares about my success: personally, professionally, and academically.”

‘No one is a stranger’

Whitlow’s coworkers respect her for similar reasons. Throughout her terms as chair and co-chair of the Danforth Staff Council, Whitlow advocated for maternity, paternity, and caregiver leave for staff, helping to craft one of the most progressive leave policies among academic institutions in the nation.

“When I joined the Staff Council, there was a maternity leave policy applicable to faculty and graduate students, but none for staff members who were instead expected to utilize a mix of vacation and sick leave when having a baby,” Whitlow explained. “In promoting a maternity leave policy for staff, we also extended our efforts to address the needs of various caregiver types.”

Trevor Bilhorn, who focuses on curriculum and registration in the MyDay system for the McKelvey School of Engineering, collaborated with Whitlow on the Staff Council as co-chair during her leadership and vice versa. He expressed that she was particularly well-suited for a leadership position within the Staff Council.

“I hold great respect for Betha. She is warm and to her, no one feels like a stranger. She identifies commonalities and shared interests, making her an excellent communicator,” Bilhorn commented. “In simple terms, she recognized that one way WashU could improve was by better supporting its staff. Her passionate advocacy for the individuals who work here is truly impressive, and it’s something I will always remember from our time together.”

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