Tory Schendel-Vyvoda is a curator, lecturer, author, medievalist, artist-philosopher, space humanities scholar, and future analog astronaut. She works at the Evansville African American Museum and the Lamasco Microgallery. She earned her bachelor’s from Indiana University and her master’s from Johns Hopkins University. She is a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, where she investigates space consciousness and NASA aesthetics. She is a Fellow in Advanced Studies in Space Humanities at the KOSMICA Institute, located in Berlin, Germany, and Mexico City, Mexico. She is also a future analog astronaut, conducting missions in 2027 with The Inspired 24 and Space Nation. Additionally, she serves on the boards and committees of several nonprofits nationwide.

She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals spanning the disciplines of museum studies, art history, theology, medieval studies, and philosophy. She co-authored the book "The Origins of Prejudice: Dangerous Opinions and Beliefs," published by Berghahn Books.

Furthermore, her research on Evansville’s Black History has been featured on the PBS TV series "Journey Indiana: Deep Roots" and on the History Channel's "Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo," Season 2, Episode 3, titled "Shady Secrets." She is Smithsonian-certified for completing the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Ethical Interpretation Workshop and has earned NASA qualifications in open science practices. In 2023, she received the Indiana University Liberal Arts Career Achievement Award, was named one of the 2023 Top 20 Women in Business in Evansville, Indiana, and was honored with the 2024 Arts Council Award for excellence in academic, institutional, and neighborhood-based arts research, programming, and engagement. In 2025, she won the Individual Award in Arts and Culture for the City of Evansville's Celebration of Leadership (COL), Leadership Everyone. 

Tory is also an active artist who exhibits nationally.