Although my primary teaching discipline has been writing/composition, I have always integrated my journalism and communications background into my course design and research. Additionally, I integrate my love and appreciation for diverse cultures and arts into the curriculum in courses I teach as well as the courses that I design. I have always been intrigued by the intersections of race, gender, and culture, particularly with regard to how they converge to influence identity and the ways we communicate that identity as a result.

 

Because I believe in fostering a holistic and authentic approach to learning, I model this as a teacher and researcher. I like to expand and sometimes complicate the conversation regarding what is deemed scholarly or academic to promote inclusion not only in my classrooms but within the higher education space in general. I think education provides one of the greatest opportunities for inclusion as well as individual expansion and transformation. Therefore my research centers on exploring these themes within my discipline and beyond. My research interests and original courses reflect this.

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Current Research Interests

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• Writing to think, learn, communicate, reflect, and heal

• Race and identity in popular culture/media

• Supporting non-traditional adult learners

• Linguistic diversity and identity in college classrooms

• Prince
   

Original Courses
 

The House Chicago Built

• Course Description:

What is House? Who is Robert Williams? What are House Heads? What is jacking? Before the world knew the term EDM, there was House. House music has played a pivotal role in altering the landscape of music locally, domestically, and internationally for nearly four decades. Yet, many people outside the House community cannot answer the aforementioned questions.

 

In this course we will answer those questions as we examine House music and culture from multiple perspectives.  In addition to exploring the music itself, we will explore how the intersections of race, sexuality, and culture merged to create this highly influential genre of music. Likewise, we will examine how these same factors have impacted the way the music is both celebrated and shunned in its birthplace. Focusing in part on how what is known as House music was primarily created by black youth on the Southside of Chicago and thrived in Chicago’s black gay nightclub scene thanks to such legendary DJs as Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy, we will examine the social climate and culture that gave birth to House in the late 1970s. We will explore the factors that helped propel its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s and sustain its existence as one of the most popular and influential international music styles of the last four decades. As part of our examination of this cultural phenomenon, we will look at House culture itself including how it created safe spaces for black gay and straight youth to come together in Chicago, and even influenced public policy.

 

Through readings, discussions, videos, recordings, guest speakers, experiential learning, and reflection, students will emerge from the course with an understanding of what House music is, who listens to it, how it has affected music and culture, and why it remains so popular despite remaining relatively unheralded in its birthplace.

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Prince: Introduction of a New Breed Leader

• Course Description:

Prince is arguably one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He has been described as a genius, an innovator, and a rebel. A superficial glance at Prince’s most commercial successes offers a glimpse of his unique talent and creativity. However, his impact extends far beyond the stage.  In a career that spanned five decades, Prince emerged as a visionary who became a change agent not only in the music industry but in society as well.

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An outspoken advocate for his beliefs, he defied pre-constructed notions of genre, race, gender, and sexuality to define his art and himself. In his 1981 song “Sexuality,” Prince summoned new breed leaders to stand up. Through his art and actions Prince emerged as one of the most influential leaders of his time, and he developed a devoted following in the process. As groundbreaking and political as we he was sexual, Prince demonstrated thought, transformational, spiritual, and servant leadership in his work and life.

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In this course we will use audio and video selections from Prince’s vast body of work along with additional readings, videos, discussion, reflection, and guest speakers to explore Prince’s impact within the context of leadership. Our interdisciplinary examination of Prince’s influence will include analyzing his life and work within the arts, technology, history, and the humanities.

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Sample Themes Covered:

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The Human Experience - We will explore the ways that Prince’s art reflected, influenced, and represented such human experiences as love, racism, sexuality, class, self-determination, and philanthropy. Students will analyze Prince’s work in relation to social, cultural, and historical contexts. A particular focus will be given to the ways that Prince demonstrated transformational and soulful leadership in his art and life.

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Self-Definition/Individual Freedom - With the ideas of psychoanalyst Thomas Szasz’ regarding self-definition as a focal point, the course will explore Prince’s ideas about self-definition, particularly as it relates to his views on freedom and self-determination as a black man and artist. Students will study the ways Prince espoused his philosophy regarding individuality, personal freedom, self-expression, and self-determination in his art and actions within this context. It will also explore how his refusal to conform to industry and artistic norms influenced change in the music and entertainment industries.

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Post-Civil Rights Blackness - The course will explore Prince’s blackness from multiple perspectives. We will examine the evolution of Prince’s racial awareness from his ascent to mega stardom during the 1980s through his growing racial activism as his career progressed. Some topics explored will include the various ways Prince broke ground as a black artist and challenged accepted racial norms and stereotypes throughout his legendary career. Focus will be given to how his refusal to be restricted by limited notions of blackness influenced black youth who were seeking to define their identities during the Post-Civil Rights era. Prince’s work as a servant leader will also be analyzed in this context.

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Technology – From the perspective of thought leadership, the course will explore the multiple ways that Prince’s technological innovation impacted the music industry. Within the context of the development of the internet and its relation to the music industry, students will analyze how Prince’s role as a pioneer in using the Internet to distribute his music and connect with fans influenced other artists and affected the music industry. Focus will also be given to other ways that Prince used technology to innovate in his field. It will also examine how issues such as internet music pirating and file-sharing sites affected Prince.

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Human Communities (Fandom) – Based on the concept of soulful leadership, the course will explore Prince’s followers who are known as “the purple army” or “purple fam.” Through research and observation students will describe the community and culture of this group and Prince’s symbiotic role as its soulful leader. They will also analyze how they compare to other artist fan bases as well how they fit into the larger society. 

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