An individual with many interests, Phelan has followed several paths during a varied career. Beginning his career as a high school art teacher, Phelan then served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam as a medic and was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.  Following his army service, Phelan was a professor for more than 30 years and served as dean, director or chair of programs in higher education. His public service included work on many accreditation teams, panels, juries and committees, as consultant to departments of education for several statesand to the UN. Additionally, he worked as a consultant to an international company and delivered numerous invited presentations in the US and abroad. Phelan has traveled and worked professionally in the US as well as in countries including China, England, France, Italy, Korea, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Israel and several Caribbean islands. This is his fifth book and he has edited another one.  Additionally, he has organized 12 exhibitions, and published more than a dozen articles on art, crafts, history and studio art education that have appeared in several languages. He has exhibited in New York (and elsewhere) and has participated in a number of innovative multimedia projects.  Phelan’s biography has been included in Who’s Who in American Art for more than twenty years.

He was educated at the Pratt Institute [BS, MFA] and at New YorkUniversity (PhD).