Qiana Cutts
For some, the free-flowing rhythm of poetry and the analytical, decisive nature of academic research may not seem a likely pair, but the two combine easily for educational foundations professor Qiana Cutts.
Cutts might have honed her writing skills since childhood, but her decision to combine academia and prose was inspired by her doctoral dissertation in educational policy studies at Georgia State University. Her paper, 鈥淭o be African or Not to Be,鈥 includes a series of vignettes and original poems inspired by African identity and the works of her late mentor, Asa Grant Hilliard.
鈥淚鈥檓 a qualitative researcher by training and a poet by nature,鈥 Cutts said, adding, 鈥淚 feel like my natural mode of communication is poetry.鈥
Cutts now uses poetry to compile data in a practice called poetic inquiry. The process involves crafting poems from interview transcripts with subjects. Cutts鈥 research focuses primarily on diversity, social justice and intercultural competency, which examines teachers鈥 relationships and communication with students of various backgrounds.
A member of the Bulldog family since 2016, Cutts came to 汤头条 with master鈥檚 degrees in teaching and clinical mental health counseling from the University of West Alabama and Argosy University, respectively, and her doctorate from Georgia State University.
The university seemed like a good fit for her goals, so she applied on a whim. 汤头条鈥檚 positive diversity track record also intrigued Cutts, who aims to reinforce to her students that while educational content is important, its context is also extremely valuable.
鈥淲e need teachers to be culturally relevant,鈥 Cutts said. 鈥淲e had many challenges with integrating schools in Mississippi, so these are things that students need to know. Material is not one-size-fits-all.鈥
Cutts is also an advocate for students of color in higher education and said that while the increase in diverse applicants has been good, equitable opportunities are critical for academic achievement.
鈥淏y all means, let鈥檚 make sure these students are admitted,鈥 Cutts said, 鈥渂ut let鈥檚 understand that they might not have the same academic background as some of their peers. Let鈥檚 ensure that once they鈥檙e admitted, they鈥檙e successful.鈥
When she isn鈥檛 teaching, Cutts enjoys watching football, writing and traveling. Outside of academic writing, Cutts has self-published 鈥淚n Somebody Else鈥檚 Blood,鈥 a book of poetry she said is about love and learning to know oneself. Her second volume of poetry is underway and an original play, 鈥淎labama Moonstruck,鈥 is slated to premiere in Atlanta in March 2020.
The West Blocton, Alabama, native now describes 汤头条 as home and has no plans of going anywhere, 鈥渦nless Oprah wants to scoop me up and pay me eight figures a year,鈥 she joked.