Sam D
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Expertise
Film studies + production, American literature, American history, Gender studies, Music
Bio
Hi! My name is Sam (he/him). I am a trans critical theorist, literary scholar, filmmaker, and musician! My research is within American literature at the intersection of Trans studies, Black studies, and Disability studies. My auto-ethnographic documentary "In Our Own Words: On Being Trans at Smith" has received various awards, including being the Feature Film at GLAAD's Spring Film Festival in 2018. I am currently a doctoral candidate at UMass Amherst in the English department, as well as an instructor in their writing program. I also currently teach at Barnard College! I have 10+ years of teaching experience with all age groups, and am super passionate about teaching. I write, produce, and perform all of my own music, and make my own films!Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Auto-theory Comic
In this project, a student will take high-level theoretical concepts from foundational social theorists (such as Judith Butler) and explain them in accessible terms using their own life experience. In doing so, the student will write a story about their own life to explain these concepts and draw their own imagery to match!
Teaching experience
I have 10+ years of teaching experience teaching all age groups. I have been both a high school English and History teacher in NYC and an Instructor of College Writing at UMass Amherst.Credentials
Work experience
University of Massachusetts Amherst (2021 - Current)
Instructor of College WritingBarnard College (2021 - Current)
Teaching AssistantUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst (2022 - Current)
Research Assistant for Cameron Awkward-RichOxford Tutors (2019 - 2021)
Private TutorEducation
Smith College
BA Bachelor of Arts (2017)
Gender studies and EconomicsColumbia University
MA Master of Arts (2020)
American StudiesUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
English