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Debra Hess Norris

Chair and Professor Art Conservation, University of Delaware and Photographic Conservator

Debra Hess Norris, Chair and Professor of Photograph Conservation, graduated magna cum laude with an interdisciplinary BA degree in chemistry, art history, and studio art (1977) and MS in conservation (1980) from the University of Delaware. She worked at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA: 1980-1986) and was hired to teach photograph conservation at UD in 1982. Since 1985, Norris has authored more than 28 articles and book chapters on care and treatment of photographic materials, emergency response, ethics, and conservation education; and taught more than 80 workshops and seminars for conservators and allied professionals. Norris has lectured and consulted on the preservation of photographic collections worldwide, including in Russia, Denmark, France, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. She has secured $8.2 million in external grants for the Art Conservation Department. Norris was president of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) from 1993-97. From 1990-93 she chaired the AIC Ethics and Standards Committee that developed a revised Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. In 2002, she was inducted into the University of Delaware’s Alumni Wall of Fame. She served as Chair of Heritage Preservation (formerly known as the National Institute for Conservation - 2003 -2008), project director of The Andrew W. Mellon Collaborative Workshops in Photograph Conservation (1997 - ), and a member of the Preservation Advisory Council to the National Archives and the Getty Grant Foundation Review Panel. In January 2004, Norris was appointed as the Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts. She has served on the Delaware Humanities Council, was recently appointed to the United States National Commission for UNESCO as a representative for Heritage Preservation, and currently serves as Chair of the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts Board. In 2008, Norris was awarded the AIC/ University Products Award for Distinguished Service. In 2008-09 Norris will be teaching photograph preservation workshops with her collaborator, Nora Kennedy, in both India and Lebanon. Norris is also Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education at the University of Delaware.