Written Work
Writing is a powerful aspect of contemplative practice. The process of centering oneself, using writing for self-exploration, and committing what is discovered to the page can be validating and transformative. In recent years, the bulk of my scholarship has taken the form of narrative research which typically focuses on the lives of individuals as told through their own stories. Increasingly, I am asked to share my perspectives on different topics drawing from my experience in higher education as well as my embodied identity as a Black gay man. Here is a collection of recent publications that utilize this approach. I will be updating this section as new offerings appear.
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This essay shares insights and lessons learned from reading the book LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education. I reflect on my journey as a Black Gay man in higher education and share how my experiences were reflected and affirmed by the stories offered by the contributing authors. It was a great read and I hope others will be encouraged to spend time with it. Queer Leader, Stronger Universities:
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This narrative essay offers an exploration of the ways in which contemplative practice can be part of a strategy for nurturing health, well-being, meaning, and joy in our everyday lives as Black contemplatives. Drawing on my experience as a Black queer scholar and college professor, attention is given to the notion of contemplative practice as a way of cultivating our internal emotional, intellectual, and spiritual resources from which those of us who teach must draw Zen, Contemplative Practice, and the Emergence of Black Queer Joyto make our disciplines come alive for ourselves and the students we work with. Zen, Contemplative Practice, and the Emergence of Black Queer Joy.
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This narrative essay offers an exploration of the power and importance of family origin stories as a grounding aspect of collective and individual identity for Black people. The author, drawing on his experience as a Black queer contemplative scholar and college professor, gives attention to the question of whether the truth is necessary or beneficial in the creation of family narratives and what each successive generation is allowed to know. This question is explored through the story of the unintended positive and negative consequences the author experienced as a result of submitting DNA to Ancestry.com.My Grandfather’s Face:
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Queer student affairs professionals of color serve as key institutional agents who support students with marginalized identities and backgrounds, especially queer students of color. While institutions of higher education often create opportunities for employment, queer student affairs professionals of color exist and labor at the organizational fringes. They often find themselves without much support across differences of race, class, gender, and sexual identity, among others. This interpretive exploratory study uses grounded theory, validation theory, and critical race theory to elevate these experiences of QPOC students through the lens of QPOC student affairs professionals who are responsible for finding ways to support QPOC students in college. Our participants detailed their calling for this work and the challenges faced by QPOC students. They also offered recommendations for institutional leaders seeking strategies to support this marginalized population. Our Younger Selves: