ZACHARY GRESHAM

Zachary Gresham, LMSW, is an interdisciplinary educator, researcher, social worker, and arts administrator working primarily at the intersection of the arts and health. He currently serves as the Program Director of Arts in Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he leads a team of Creative Arts Therapists and oversees psychosocial and educational arts programming for pediatric patients and their families.

With a career spanning over fifteen years in Houston’s vibrant arts ecosystem, Gresham’s work focuses on the role of the arts in clinical and community settings. His research interests include arts-based interventions for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer, staff wellness in healthcare environments, and collaborative legacy building in pediatric oncology. He has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, sharing insights at the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH), the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and the National Art Education Association (NAEA).

Beyond his clinical work, Gresham has extensive experience in arts administration and community-based arts education. As the former Director of Education Programs at Art League Houston, he significantly expanded the Art League School and established the Summer Intensive for Teens (SIFT). There, he also oversaw Healing Art classes and the ArtBound! program, which integrated visual arts curriculum into Title 1 elementary schools across Houston with limited access to arts education. Prior to this, he held roles centered on arts education and community engagement at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston Ballet, and Lawndale Art Center.

At the University of Houston, Gresham serves as an Instructor for the MA in Arts Leadership program, teaching graduate seminars such as Arts and Health in Practice and Arts and Technology. Additionally, he has served as a Lecturer for undergraduate art education courses within the College of Education at the University of Houston.

Gresham holds three degrees from the University of Houston: a Master of Social Work (2024), a Master of Education in Art Education (2015), and a Master of Arts in Arts Leadership (2015). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Lamar University. He is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Texas.

Education

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) - State of Texas - Effective 2024
Master of Social Work - University of Houston - 2024
Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction - Art Education - University of Houston - 2015
Master of Arts in Arts Leadership - University of Houston - 2015
Bachelor of Arts in History, Minor in Art History - Lamar University - 2008