Sabrina Mooroogen Phillips
Dr. Mooroogen Phillips brings 22 years of teaching experience across the UK, Middle East, Asia, and the United States. Her interdisciplinary background spans art history, film and television production, museum education, and social justice. She holds a doctorate in Social Justice and Education, a master’s degree in Art History, a diploma in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Production.
Before joining ACC, Sabrina served as a Senior Educator at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she also led teacher professional development and chaired the museum’s Equity Steering Committee. Her work in museum education has focused on making art accessible, encouraging critical thinking, and creating opportunities for people to connect personal experiences with broader cultural and social questions.
Sabrina began her career in film and television production, contributing to projects across the UK, including the Harry Potter films at Pinewood Studios. This creative production background continues to inform her approach to teaching, where she encourages students to look closely, think critically, and explore the ways visual culture shape how we understand ourselves and the world around us.
Courses Taught
ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation
Faculty Spotlight Questions
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What do you most hope students will take away from your class?
I hope students leave my class feeling more curious about the world and more confident in their own ways of seeing, thinking, and expressing themselves. I want them to recognize that art is not just something to look at, but a way to explore ideas, question assumptions, connect with different perspectives, and better understand themselves and others. Most of all, I hope they carry that curiosity and critical thinking beyond the classroom and into their everyday lives.
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Name a place that you’ve traveled to, but feel like you need to go back to because you didn’t have enough time there.
Mount Everest. I made it to Base Camp, but I’d love to go back and see how much further up I could get. There’s something incredible about being surrounded by those mountains, and I feel like it’s an experience I’d love to have more time to explore.
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What is your favorite technique or topic to teach? Is there one lecture or selection that is the most fun for you to teach?
Ancient Egyptian art is one of my favourite topics to teach! I love exploring the age, mystery, and wonder of this civilisation, from the symbolism in its art to the many theories and unanswered questions that still fascinate us today. There’s so much room for speculation, debate, and imagination. One of my favourite activities is having students work in groups to recreate famous monuments using LEGO. It’s always fun to see what they come up with, and they often surprise me with their creativity and the conversations that emerge along the way.
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If there was one artwork that you could bring home, what would it be?
My favorite changes all the time, but right now it would be Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Netherlandish Proverbs (1559). I love the endless possibilities for looking at this painting. Every time you return to it, you notice something new. There’s so much detail, absurdity, and humor packed into the everyday lives of its tiny characters. I could happily spend hours exploring it and still find something I hadn’t noticed before!
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How do you most make an impact?
I think I make the most impact by helping people see things differently, whether that’s a work of art, an idea, or their own experiences. I love creating spaces where people feel comfortable asking questions, challenging their assumptions, and making connections they might not have made before.
