Dr. Dywanna E. Smith
Biography
Dr. Dywanna E. Smith is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Claflin University. She serves as Middle Level Program Coordinator and Advisement Ambassador for the School of Education. Dr. Smith received her doctorate in language and literacy from the University of South Carolina. Her dissertation interpreted how eighth grade African American girls perceived obesity in their daily lives and analyzed what happened when opportunities were given to create counter-narratives about race, gender, and size. Informed by Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Theory, the study centered the body as a textual artifact, broadened notions of what counts as text which can be critically read and provided models for nurturing youth in tackling school and community issues.
Before entering the academy, Dr. Smith served as a 7th Grade ELA instructor, a Middle-Level Reading Coach, Instructional Coach, and as a District Office ELA Curriculum Consultant. Her experience in Middle-Level Education spans over 15 years.
As a scholar-educator-activist, Dywanna’s research focuses on two related interests: 1) examining the intersections of race, literacies, and education and 2) equipping teachers with equity pedagogies to successfully teach linguistically and culturally diverse students. She has presented nationally and internationally on these subjects. She is a Fulbright Scholar Participant to Cameroon and Ghana to learn about indigenous language and knowledges.
Dr. Smith is co-editor of a Critics Book Choice Award Winner from the American Educational Studies Association entitled, “African Diaspora Literacy: The Heart of Transformation in K-12 Schools and Teacher Education” alongside Drs. Lamar Johnson, Gloria Boutte, and Gwenda Greene. Her book project on Black Girl Literacies is under contract with NCTE/Routledge press and will be finalized this year.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Language and Literacy, University of S.C.
Master of Teaching, Secondary Education, University of S.C.
Bachelor of Arts, English, University of S.C.
Research Interests
- Black Girl Literacies
- African-Diaspora Literacy
- Equity Pedagogies
- Critical Literacies
- Critical Race Theory in Education
Activities and Honors
- Recipient 2020
- 2020 AERA Conference Reviewer
- American Educational Research Association
- 2020 AMLE SPA Reviewer
- Association of Middle Level Education
- Recipient 2019
- Critics Book Choice Award Winner
- American Educational Studies Association
- Recipient 2019
- Excellence in Teaching Award
- Claflin University
- 2019 AERA Conference Reviewer
- American Educational Research Association
- 2019 AMLE SPA Reviewer
- Association of Middle Level Education
- Recipient 2018
- Fulbright-Hayes Project Participant
- Claflin University
- Recipient 2018
- NCTE Poetry Master Class
- National Council for Teachers of English
- Recipient 2018
- Excellence in Teaching Award
- Claflin University
- Recipient 2017
- Fulbright-Hayes Project Participant
- Claflin University
- Fulbright-Hayes Project Participant
- University of South Carolina
Recent Publications
Peters, A., Li, N., & Smith, D. (2020). Supporting the Academic Success of Pre-Service Teachers. In N. Li (Ed.), A Research Perspective: Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for Academic Success across South Carolina (pp. 29-59). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Smith, D. (2019). Award-Winning Young Adult Literature. Dragon Lode Journal, 39(1), 49-53.
Smith, D. E. (2018). Telling Our Stories; Sharing Our Lives: Storytelling as the Heart of Resistance (D. E. Smith, Ed.). In L. Johnson, G. Boutte, & G. Greene (Eds.), African diaspora literacy: The heart of transformation in K-12 schools and teacher education. (pp. 107-125). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, an imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
Smith, D. E. (2018). Insights and Reflections: Thoughts on Transformation. (D. E. Smith, Ed.). In L. Johnson, G. Boutte, & G. Greene (Eds.), African diaspora literacy: The heart of transformation in K-12 schools and teacher education. (pp. 165-171). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, an imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
Recent Presentations
Smith, D. (2020, April). Hot Combs, Cornbread, and Truth: Lessons and Literacies from our Mothers and Other-Mothers. Presentation at the annual American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA. (Conference Canceled).
Smith, D., Kelly-Morris, K., & Taste, A. (2020, January). The Healing Power of Journaling: Because Black Mental Health Matters. Presentation at the first annual conference of the Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students, Columbia, SC.
Smith, D., & Greene. G. (2020, January). Other-Mothering: Examining the Intersections of Mothering as Leadership at HBCUs. Presentation at the first annual conference of the Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students, Columbia, SC.
Smith, D. (2019, April). Looking Through Eyes of Love: Renaming and Reclaiming Black Looks, Black Love, and Black Literacies. Presentation at the annual American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Canada.