Faculty Spotlight Professor Joseph Hocker Thrives to Inspire

If you’ve ever taken a course with Professor Joseph Hocker, or perhaps passed his office hidden away in Alumni Hall, you are probably familiar with the phrase “make art, be amazing.” It is often scrawled on the white board hanging on his office door, and he’s sure to send off his students with this message of encouragement after each class. Although his time at Albright College thus far has been short, his enthusiasm has already begun to resonate with the campus community.

Hocker joined the Albright Arts Department in 2019 after serving as an instructor at a number of other colleges and universities. “I’ve taught basically anywhere in the region,” he says, “Arcadia College, UArts, Temple, Delaware County Community, Delaware County College of Art and Design, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, all over the place.” However, when he made it to Albright, and even taught through a pandemic, something inspired him. “I’m hoping to be here for a long time,” says Hocker.

During his three years at Albright, he has already taught a number of art courses, both in a contemporary and digital space. Hocker’s work has extended through analog photography, digital video, and even computer graphics. Yet, it’s his passion for the creative process that he most hopes

by Dylan Sokolovich

to instill in his students. “One of the things I really like about this type of institution is that, because it’s not such an art specific space, I get to interact with people who are, you know, bio majors or business majors and I get to experience their approaches to making,” he says. The courses taught by Hocker are composed of a variety of students, all of which he believes help broaden the conversation of the arts and creative practices.

Looking towards his future, Hocker hopes to become a mainstay in the community and have the opportunity to see students, art and the creative process grow while he’s at Albright. “I want student’s to make things, that’s the goal, and whether they are students from accounting or business or some other practice of some other major that doesn’t feel like they’re in a creative field, I want them to recognize that all fields are creative and all fields have that opportunity to make, show, and communicate,” he says. Whether it be in the darkroom, computer lab, or studio, one thing is clear, Hocker and his sendoff, “make art, be amazing,” will remain an integral part of the arts at Albright for years to come.