Curriculum Vitae

Summer Melody Pennell (she/her)
Lecturer in Education
University of Vermont

EDUCATION

 2016

  • Ph.D. , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Education: Culture, Curriculum and Change

  • Advisor: Dr. George Noblit

  • Dissertation: Queering the Curriculum: Critical Literacy and Numeracy for Social Justice

  • Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Methods

2009 

  • M.A., University of Oregon

  • Interdisciplinary Studies: Folklore

  • Advisor: Dr. Lisa Gilman

  • Thesis: Learning through Practice: Creating and Performing a Lesbian Wayang Kulit in Javanese Style

2004      

  • B.A., University of Washington- Seattle

  • English Literature and Interdisciplinary Visual Art

AREAS OF TEACHING & RESEARCH

  • Teacher education

  • Critical literacies & new literacies

  • Young Adult literature

  • Social foundations of education

  • Queer theory & pedagogy

  • LGBTQ+ issues

  • Critical Race Theory

  • Qualitative methods

  • Experiences of Academic Mothers*

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TEACHING POSITIONS

2023- present

Program Coordinator, MAT in Secondary Education, University of Vermont, Department of Education

2021- present

Lecturer of Education, University of Vermont, Department of Education

2016-2021

Assistant Professor of English Education, Truman State University, Department of English & Linguistics

2012-2013

Teaching Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2009-2011

Secondary English Teacher, Bertie Early College High School, Windsor, North Carolina

2004-2006

English Conversation Instructor, Nova Group, Osaka, Japan

CONSULTING

2023- present

Research Associate, Institute for Liberatory Innovation, Montpelier, VT

2018

Safe Zone training, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO

2016-2017

Program Evaluation, Perpich Center for Arts Integration, Alison LaGarry and Associates

2013

Program Evaluation, Minnesota Arts Integration Program, Research Director: Dr. George Noblit

RESEARCH & CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

2016

Created Secondary ELA lesson plan for Dr. Patricia Sawin, Lesson accompanies her folkloric film Bessie Eldreth

2012-2015

Research Assistant, LEARN NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,  Director: Dr. Cheryl Bolick (2012-2014); Martinette Horner (2015)

2014

Kress Education Fellow, Ackland Art Museum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

EDITING

2015-2016

Editor, The High School Journal, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Faculty supervisor: Dr. Madeleine Grumet

COURSES TAUGHT

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

Graduate

  • EDSC 5215: Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Schools

Undergraduate

  • EDSC 2150: Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Schools

  • EDSC 3240: Teaching English: Secondary Schools

  • EDSC 4300: Teaching for Success

  • EDSC 4266: Student Teaching Internship

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Graduate

  • ED 681: Research Study in Education: English

  • ED 609G: Teaching Internship: English

  • ENG 506G: Theory and Practice of Teaching Literature

Undergraduate

  • ENG 440: Lit & Geography: Southern American Literature

  • ENG 434: Queer Theory

  • ENG 416: Young Adult Literature

  • ENG 365: Folklore

  • JINS 339: Gender & Culture: Selfies

  • ENG 230: Introduction to English: Critical Communities

  • ENG 206: Popular Genres: LGBT YA Lit

  • INDV 150: Book & Discussion: Dark Fantastic YA Lit

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA- CHAPEL HILL

  • INLS 890: Youth Services in a Diverse Society

  • EDUC 746: Practicum Student Internship: MAT Secondary English

  • COMM 063: First Year Seminar: Creative Performance

  • Upward Bound: English I & II

DUKE TALENT IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM (TIP)

  • From Wonderland to Hogwarts

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

  • Beginning College Composition

  • College Composition II

BERTIE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

  • English 1

  • English 2: World Literature

  • English 3: American Literature

  • College Prep Writing

GRANTS

  • 2018: National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID) Pop-Up Research Grant, $2000, for project titled "How Can we Talk about Race in the Classroom?: A Content Analysis of Missouri Learning Standards for K-12 Education"

  • 2018: Truman State University School of Arts and Letters Mini-Grant, $500, "How do Missouri English Teachers Talk about Race in the Classroom?"

AWARDS

  • 2024: (awarded to the Motherscholar Collective) Supporting Motherscholars Innovation Award, International Association of Maternal Action & Scholarship

  • 2022: The Divergent Award for Excellence in Literary Advocacy, Initiative for Literacy in a Digital Age

  • 2021: Semi-Finalist for the Research Mentor of the Year Award, Truman State University

  • 2019: Academic Innovation Award for “Creating Memes to Increase Comprehension of Queer Theory,” Truman State University

  • 2019: Center for Institutional Diversity's Bertha Thomas Faculty Advocate Award, Truman State University

  • 2019: Women's Resource Center's Woman of Distinction Award, Truman State University

  • 2018: Nominated for the Women's Resource Center's Woman of Distinction Award, Truman State University

  • 2017: National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Faculty of the Year, Truman State University

  • 2017: Semi-Finalist for the Research Mentor of the Year Award, Truman State University

  • 2016: LGBTQI Advocacy Award, from the UNC-Chapel Hill LGBTQ Center

  • 2016: Prize for Best Graduate Work, from the UNC-Chapel Hill Program in Sexuality Studies

  • 2016: Emerging Diversity Scholar, National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan

  • 2014: American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Taylor & Francis Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award

  • 2014: Kress Education Fellowship in Applied Research at the Ackland Art Museum, UNC-Chapel Hill

  • 2009: Bruce M Abrams Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Graduate Essay Award, from the University of Oregon Women’s and Gender Studies Department

Certifications

  • Teaching Online Certificate, Quality Matters, completed March 2021

  • Google Certified Educator Level 1 (expired 2024)

SCHOLARSHIP AND PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

Pennell, Summer. (2019). Queering Critical Literacy & Numeracy for Social Justice: Navigating the Course. Palgrave MacMillan.

Pennell, Summer, Ashley Boyd, Hillary Parkhouse, and Alison LaGarry. (Eds.) (2017). Possibilities in Practice: Social Justice Teaching in the Disciplines. New York, NY: Peter Lang.

  • Chapter: Summer Pennell and Bryan Fede. Reading the Math on Marriage Equality: Social Justice Lessons in Middle School, (pp. 93-106).

REFEREED ARTICLES

REFEREED BOOK CHAPTERS & ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES

  • Richardson, I., Lim, S. R., Pennell, S. M., Garcia-Hallett, J., Frazier, K. E., Bielski, L. M., Green-Rooks, J., Karlsgodt, K. H., Blanks Jones, J. L., Hoffman-Hall, A., Parker-Barnes, L., Azim, K. A. (in press). Teaching with Care: Turning Lip Service into Anti-Racist Practice. In G. Reavis, K. Manturuk, & C. Hayward (Eds.) Creating More Inclusive and Equitable Teaching and Learning: How Crises Can Transform the Higher Education Landscape. Information Age Publishing.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2024). Learning Through Processing: Teaching and Researching with Queer and Social Justice Pedagogies. In Evolutions in Critical and Postcritical Ethnography: Crafting Approaches (pp. 233-257). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

  • Kilgo, C. A. & Pennell, S. M. (2023). Flipping the narrative on teaching queer YA. In A. Duran, K. Strunk, & R. Schey (Eds.) Bridging the rainbow gap, (p. 64-83). Brill Sense.

  • Azim, K., Pennell, S. M., Lim, S., Obaid, M. C., Eilert, M., Ho, H., Key-Delaria, S., & The Motherscholar Collective. (2023). Collective Perspectives: The formation of a motherscholar pandemic research collaborative. In M. C. Planas & D. Castillo (Eds.), Scholars in COVID Times. Cornell University Press.

  • The Motherscholar Collective, Richardson, I., Jones, J. L. B., Greene-Rooks, J., Azim, K. A., Wagner, K., Eilert, M., Lim, S., Pennell, S. M., & Brooks, T. (2023). From Social Media Group to Village: Academic Mothers* Create a Supportive Online Networking Group During COVID-19. In S. Trocchio, L. Hanasono, R. Dwyer, J. J. Borchert, & J. Y. Harvie (Eds.), It takes a village: Academic mothers building online communities, (p. 277-300). Springer.  

  • Pennell, S. M. (2022). Teaching fairy tale retellings with Anna-Marie McLemore’s Dark and Deepest Red. In P. Greathouse, B. Eisenbach & C. Miller (Eds.), Queer Young Adult Literature as a Complement to the English Language Arts Curriculum (2nd Ed.). Roman & Littlefield. 

  • Baker, K., Pennell, S. M., & Fede, B. (2022). The Mathematics of Imagination: Uncovering Math and Meaning in the Graphic Novel The Magic Fish. In P. Greathouse, H. Anthony, & B. Eisenbach (Eds), Developing Mathematical Literacy through Young Adult Literature.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2021). “Queer Theory.” In Strunk, K. & Shelton, S. A. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Queer Studies in Education. Brill.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2021). “Queer Pedagogy.” In Strunk, K. & Shelton, S. A. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Queer Studies in Education. Brill

  • Boyd, A., LaGarry, A., Parkhouse, H., & Pennell, S. M. (2020). “‘Talk to Me’: Dialogic Engagement as Pedagogy.” In B. Waters & M Sanchez (Eds.) How We Got Here: The Role of Critical Mentoring and Social Justice Praxis, (72–81). Brill. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004432468_009.

  • Baker, K., Fede, B. & Pennell, S. M. (2020). What does it mean to be equal? In L. Airton & S. Wooley (Eds.), K-12 Lesson Plans on Gender Diversity, (71-81). Canadian Scholars' Press.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2019). Queer Theory/Pedagogy and Social Justice Education. In R. Papa & M. Sanchez (Eds.) Handbook on Promoting Social Justice in Education. Springer.

  • Parkhouse, H. & Pennell, S. M. (2018). Tools for Navigation: Latinx Students, Gender, and Sexuality. In G. Noblit & L. Urrieta (Eds.) Cultural Constructions of Identity: Meta Ethnography and Theory, (pp. 150-176). Oxford.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2018). Girls with Ambition and Heart: Teaching Malinda Lo’s Huntress. In P. Greathouse, B. Eisenbach, & J. Kaywell (Eds.), Queer Adolescent Literature as a Complement to the English Language Arts Curriculum. Roman & Littlefield.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2016). Queer Transgressive Cultural Capital. In E. Brockenbrough, J. Ingrey, W. Martino, & N. Rodriguez (Eds.) Critical Concepts in Queer Studies and Education: An International Guide for the Twenty-First Century, (pp. 319-328). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Pennell, S. M.(2016). Queer paranoia: Worrying about and through a queer dissertation study. In s.j. Miller & N. Rodriguez (Eds.) Educators Queering Academia: Critical Memoirs, (pp. 13-20). Peter Lang.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2016). Transitional memoirs: Reading with a Queer Cultural Capital Model. In S. Miller (Ed.) Teaching, Affirming, and Honoring Trans and Gender Creative Youth: A Queer Literacy Framework (pp. 199-230). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Pennell, S. M. and Cain, J. M. (2016). Adorned: Moving from decoration to disposition in social justice. In J. Diem (Ed.) The social and cultural foundations of education: A reader (pp. 148-165). Cognella Academic Publishing.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2015). The Gaps Between You and Me: Being Gay in TFA. In T. Brewer & K. Demarrais (Eds.) Teach for America counter-narratives: Alumni speak up and speak out (pp. 129-138). New York: Peter Lang

OTHER ARTICLES

  • Pennell, S. M. (2020). Foreword. In C. McNabb's Queer Adolescence: Understanding the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual youth. Rowman & Littlefield.

  • Pennell, S. M. (2017). The Formation of thesis statements: Beyoncé in the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom. Minnesota English Journal Online.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Spring 2014). Letter from the editorial board. The High School Journal, 97(3), 125-127.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Fall 2013). “He Doesn’t Look like the Lone Ranger…,” in Tar Heel News, published by the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies.

  • Pennell, S. M. (October 2009), Creating and Performing Pinang & Ayu: A Love Story. A Lesbian Shadow-Puppet Performance, in CultureWork: A Periodic Broadside for Arts and Cultural Workers, 13(4), Center for Community Arts and Cultural Policy, Arts & Administration Program, University of Oregon, Eugene.

MANUSCRIPTS ACCEPTED AND/OR IN PRESS

  • The Motherscholar Collective. (under contract). Eds. K. Azim, J. H. Greene-Rooks, C. King, H. Ho, M. Campbell-Obaid, S. M. Pennell. The MotherScholar Collective: A Framework for Redefining Academic Life. Brill Sense publishing.

  •  Tadayuki, S., Pennell, S.M., & Colabucci, L. (in press). From activists to werewolves: The American Library Association’s 2023 rainbow book list. Multicultural Perspectives.

  • Pennell, S. M., Miller, C. H., & Matos, A. (in press). Queer Transgressive Cultural Capital as Fantastical Care in When the Moon was Ours.  

  • Pennell, S.M., (proposal accepted). Analyzing Starr’s Identity in The Hate U Give using Critical Race Feminism. In S. Maher & A. Hays (Eds.). Identity, Criticality, and Advocacy in Young Adult Literature.

  • Frazier, K., Azim, K. A., Bender, S., Bielski, L., Campbell-Obaid, M., Cripe, E. T., Garcia-Hallet, J., Greene-Rooks, J. H., Harmon, A., Heller, N. A., Myles-Baltzly, C., Pennell, S. M., Richardson, I., Frazer, A K. (chapter submitted). Academic Motherhood: Holistic Motherscholars Lifting Each Other Up the Ladders. In K. Crawford & L. Windsor (Eds.), Academic Chutes and Ladders: How the Hidden Curriculum Makes or Breaks Academic Careers.

 EVALUATION REPORTS

  • LaGarry, A., B., A. S., Parkhouse, H., Pennell, S. M. (2017). Final report for Perpich Arts Integration initiatives 2016-2017. Perpich Foundation, Golden Valley, M.N.

  • LaGarry, A., Parkhouse, H., Pennell, S. M., Boyd, A. S. (2016). Annual report for Perpich Arts Integration initiatives 2015-2016 (Evaluation report). Perpich Foundation, Golden Valley, M.N.

MEDIA

REFEREED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Pennell, S. M. & Matos, A. “Connecting queer cultural capital (QTCC) with care in When the Moon was Ours.” ELATE YA Commission Sponsored Roundtable session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, Nov. 19, 2023.

  • Pennell, S. M., Oviatt, R., Crawley, A., & Shelton, S. (Chairs). “Queer(ing) Conexiones.” GSEA Sponsored Roundtable session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, November 19, 2022.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Session accepted) “Flipping the narrative on teaching queer YA.” In the session "Bridging the Rainbow Gap: Exploring Tensions and Possibilities in Queer Studies in K-12 and Higher Education." AERA Annual Conference, April 2023.

  • Pennell, S. M., Baker, K., & Fede, B. “Interdisciplinary Visual Literacy through The Magic Fish. ELATE YA Commission Sponsored Roundtable session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 19, 2022.

  • Pennell, S. M., Crawley, A., & Shelton, S. (Chairs). “Bringing LGBTQ+ Sueños into the Light.” GSEA Sponsored Roundtable session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 19, 2022.

  • Pennell, S. M., & Crawley, A. (Chairs). “Queer Intersections of Equity, Justice, and Antiracism.” Live virtual session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, November 21, 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Focusing on Marginalized Identities through Imagery: A Fairy Tale Retelling and Remix with Dark and Deepest Red.” In the live roundtable virtual session Developing Inclusive and Affirming Curriculum - Merging Queer-Themed YA Texts with Secondary ELA Curriculum Standards and Teaching at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, November 21, 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M., Boyd, A. S., & Cook, M. “White Teacher Educators Engaging Anti-Racism at PWIs.” Pre-recorded panel presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, November 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M.. “Pre-Service Teachers Engaging with Social Justice: Focusing on Theory to Encourage Practice.” In the ELATE-SJ Sponsored Roundtable Session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, November 2020. Held virtually due to COVID-19.

  • Pennell, S. M., Stachowiak, D. & Lee, D. (Chairs). GSEA Sponsored Roundtable Session: A ¡Confluencia! of Queer Songs., at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, November 2020. Held virtually due to COVID-19.

  • Pennell, S. M. Using Critical Race Methodology to Analyze Missouri State Learning Standards. Accepted for presentation in a roundtable session entitled “The State and Education Reform: A Policy Agenda for Researchers and Policymakers” at the American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 2020. Conference canceled due to COVID-19.

  • Pennell, S. M. Queer Critical Community through Twitter: Fostering Bonds among College Students. Accepted for presentation in a roundtable session entitled “Trans and Queer Experiences in Higher Education” at the American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 2020. Conference canceled due to COVID-19.

  • Pennell, S. M. Reading The Hate U Give with White Pre-service Teachers: Engaging in Critical Reflection. Panel session entitled “Young Adult Literature and Teacher Education” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 23, 2019.

  • Sieben, N., Pennell, S. M., & Stachowiak, D. (Chairs). GSEA Sponsored Roundtable Session: LGBTQ+ Spirited Inquiry: Visibility in ELA, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 22, 2019.

  • DesPrez, E., Blackburn, M. & Pennell, S. M. They/Them/Ours: NCTE’s “Statement on Language and Gender” and Inclusive Language Practices, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 21, 2019.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Panelist for session organized by Robert Bittner, paired with author Shaun David Hutchinson). Centering a Diversity of LGBTQ Voices in Education, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 21, 2019

  • Pennell, S. M. (Faculty mentor for E. Stobbe). The Future is Now: Exploring 21st-Century Teaching Ideas with the Next Generation of English Teachers, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 18, 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Roundtable leader: mentor). Nurturing and Sustaining Critical Educators: A Mentoring and Networking Session (Sponsored by the Latinx Caucus), at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 17, 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Roundtable leader). Why Middle Matters: Pursuing Justice and Equity Together, a co-sponsored session by the Middle Level Section, NCTE Caucuses, and the GSEA, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 17, 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M.. Critical Community Building Through Twitter: Increasing Student Voices in a YAL Course. Panel session entitled "Technology Tolls that Support ELA Instruction: YA Lit and LGBTQ Issues" at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 16, 2018.

  • Sieben, N., Pennell, S. M., & Stachowiak, D. (Chairs). GSEA Sponsored Roundtable Session: Amplifying and Celebrating Intersectional and Transectional LGBTQ+ Voices, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Nov. 16, 2018.

  • Boyd, A., Parkhouse, H., LaGarry, A., & Pennell, S. M.. Possibilities in Community-Oriented Public Education: Building Local Partnerships through Arts Integration. Presented at the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) Annual Conference, NY, NY, April 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M. (Faculty mentor for R. Davis). The Future is Now: Exploring 21st-Century Teaching Ideas with the Next Generation of English Teachers, at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, Nov. 19, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. Reading Representations of Race: Critical Literacy and Ferguson. Panel session entitled “Critical Understandings of Race in Literacy Contexts” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, Nov. 18, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. #PLLTheory: Literacy Practices of Adolescents’ Online Fandom. Roundtable session entitled “Capturing Digital Literacies in Action: Using Video to Study Students' Out-of-School Literacies” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, Nov. 17, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. Queer Familial Cultural Capital: Undergraduates Analyze LGBTQ YA Literature. Roundtable session entitled “Building Bridges to Empowerment: Intersectional and Transectional LGBTQ+ Voices in Classroom Spaces and Beyond” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, Nov. 18, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. & Fede, B. Marriage Equality Math. In a symposium entitled “Memories of Social Justice Teaching” at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. Creating (Chosen) Family Memories: Queer Cultural Capital in a YA Literature Course. In a panel entitled “Queering Educational Studies: Texts, Theory, and Therapy” at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. Recognizing the Puzzle: Knowledge Creation in a Social Justice Math Class. Roundtable session entitled “Queer Theory in the Classroom” at the American Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX, May 1, 2017.

  • Day, S. & Pennell, S. M. #PLLQueerTheory: Fans’ Reactions to Queer Representation in Pretty Little Liars. Presented at the Women and Gender Studies Conference, Truman State University, Jan. 27, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Stability in Mobility: How Students Move through Literacy Practices for Social Justice.” Presented at the Literacy Research Association’s (LRA) Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, Dec. 2, 2016

  • Boyd, A. & Pennell, S. M. “Re-Imagining Critical Theory: Young Adult Literature as a Language for Understanding.” Presented at the American Educational Studies Association’s (AESA) Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, Nov. 5, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. "Processing social justice: A queer enactment of learning from a middle school class." Presented in a roundtable session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Washington D.C., April 9, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Critical Literacy.” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “Building and Sustaining English Education Through the Research and Practice of English Education Doctoral Students” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 21, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Resisting the Sameness: The Giver and queer pedagogy in English education.” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “The Art of Classroom Practice: Using Language to Explore Identity Politics” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 21, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Rethinking Normal: Teaching Memoirs in Transition” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “LGBTQ Voices in Education: ‘Speaking Truth to Power’” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 20, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Reading art for social justice.” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “Responsibility, Creativity, and the Arts in Social Justice Teacher Education” at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 20, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “The problem with unquestioning love: Students learning to look beyond ‘the one’ and embrace ambiguity.” Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, Nov. 15, 2015. Presented in a panel presentation entitled “Love in the Disciplines: Addressing Social Justice in Subject-Specific Spaces.”

  • Pennell, S. M., “Queer Pedagogy in English Methods” Presented as part of a panel entitled “Queering the ELA Curriculum: Perspectives from High School and Teacher Education” with Michelle Page and Kirsten Helmer, at the joint International Federation for the Teaching of English and Conference on English Education (IFTE/CEE), New York, NY, July 8, 2015.

  • Boyd, A., Anderson, T. & Pennell, S. M. "Social Justice and Young Adult Literature: An Exploration of Possibilities, Places, and Critical Pedagogies." A panel presented at the joint International Federation for the Teaching of English and Conference on English Education (IFTE/CEE), New York, NY, July 7, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. & Harrelson, B. “Taking Action in Your School.” AdvaNCe Equality Conference held by Equality NC, March 21, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Digital Literacy.” Presented the Southeastern Association of Educational Studies (SEAES) Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, Feb, 7, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Digital Literacies for Social Justice and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration.” Presented in a roundtable session at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2014.

  • Boyd, A. & Pennell, S. M. “Macklemore or Mackle-less? A Cultural Study of “Same Love” as Public Pedagogy.” Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Toronto, ON, CA, Nov. 2, 2014.

  • Parkhouse, H. & Pennell, S. M. “Latina Students and Gender/Sexual Identities.” Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Toronto ON, CA, Oct. 30, 2014. Presented in a panel session entitled “Meta-ethnography and theory: Identity and difference in qualitative syntheses.”

  • Pennell, S. M., Hafera, A. & Hale, M. “Art Interpretation Circles (AIC): Teaching students to ‘read’ art objects.” Presented at the North Carolina English Teachers Association (NCETA) Annual Conference, October 11, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Cultural Capital: Applications for the K-12 Classroom.” Presented in a roundtable session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 5, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer, Transgressive Cultural Capital.” Presented at the Southeastern Women Studies Association (SEWSA) conference, March 28, 2014.

  • Fede, B. & Pennell, S. M. “Just(ice) in Time for the Common Core: Addressing Argumentation in Math Class.” Poster presentation at the Psychology of Mathematics Education, North American Chapter Conference (PMENA), Chicago, IL, November, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Cultural Capital: Extending Yosso’s Examination of Cultural Capital to LGBTQ Communities.” Presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Oct. 31, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. & Fede, B. “A Queer Equation: Queer Pedagogy in Mathematics.” Presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 1, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Opening Hearts and Minds: A Meta-Analysis of LGBTQ- focused Professional Development Programs for K-12 Teachers.” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “Queer on Campus: LGBTQ Issues in Postsecondary and Professional Education” at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 28, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Process Drama as an Educational Tool for the Oppressed.” Presented in a roundtable session entitled “Arts and Inquiry in Education.” Presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 30, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Acting Out in School: Performance-based, Queer-focused Professional Development for K-12 teachers.” Presented at the Southeastern Women Studies Association (SEWSA) conference, April 19, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “A Protest in Disguise.” Presented at the Southeastern Women Studies Association (SEWSA) conference, April 19, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer Capital: Extending Yosso's Examination of Cultural Capital with a Queer Perspective.” Presented at the Southeastern Association of Educational Studies (SEAES) Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, Jan. 12, 2013.

  • Hirsch, K., Bartels, J. & Pennell, S. M. “Teaching the Election with LEARN NC.” Presented at the NC English Teachers Association (NCETA) conference, Charlotte, NC, Sept. 28, 2012.

  • Pennell, S. M. & Swogger, S. “Delicious Research.” Presented at the NC English Teachers Association (NCETA) annual conference, Winston-Salem, NC, Oct. 23, 2010.

OTHER CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Richardson, L. & Pennell, S. M.. “Explore the World in Your Classroom with LEARN NC.” Presented at the K-12 Global Education Symposium 2013: Population and Global Migration in Chapel Hill, NC, Oct. 23, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Education and Literacy: Authors’ Tea.” Co-facilitator of a workshop at the Youth Services Association’s (YSA) Youth Service Institute (YSI), Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 25, 2011.

INVITED WORKSHOPS AND GUEST LECTURES

  • Pennell, S. M. & Boyd, A. “Social Justice Across the Disciplines.” Guest lecture for “Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas,” Oklahoma State University, April 22, 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer Pedagogy and Theory in Education Research.” Guest lecture for EDUS 702: Foundations of Educational Research and Doctoral Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University, April 5 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M. "Introduction to Queer Theory." Guest lecture for PHRE 361: Gender & Religion in America, Truman State University, Feb. 3, 2021.

  • Pennell, S. M. "Introduction to Queer Theory." Guest lecture for ART 428: Art History Topics: Art & Gender , Truman State University, Sept. 3, 2020.

  • Pennell, S. M. “What a hot mess! How to turn your data into a dissertation.” Guest lecture for ELC 664: Foundations of Interpretive Inquiry, UNC- Greensboro, April 5, 2016; Nov. 10, 2017; Nov. 13, 2018; Nov. 19, 2019; Oct. 27, 2020, Nov. 8, 2022.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Disciplinary Literacy for Social Justice.” Guest lecture for CI 395: Teaching Disciplinary Literacy, Iowa State University, Nov. 8 2018; Nov. 12, 2019.

  • Pennell, S. M. "Teaching about LGBTQ+ Issues in the ELA Classroom." Guest lecture for ENGL 323: Approaches to the Teaching of English, Washington State University, Sept. 5, 2019.

  • Pennell, S. M., panelist, “Graduate School and Beyond.” Truman State University Student Government Association’s Women’s Leadership Conference, Feb. 16, 2019.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Unexpected Intersections: Folk Community Traits in Queer Ghost Hunters.” Lecture for the Truman State University Folklore Colloquium, Nov. 28, 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer Pedagogy and Social Justice Education.” Guest lecture for EDUC 533: Social Justice in Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, Oct. 16. 2018.

  • Pennell, S. M. “What Does a Lesbian Puppet Show Have to Do with Folklore?” Lecture for the Truman State University Folklore Colloquium, Oct. 16, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Teaching Queer Young Adult Literature.” Guest lecture for Research Studies in English Language Arts Education, Auburn University, June 27, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Gender, Sexuality, and the Performing Arts in Indonesia.” Guest lecture for SOAN 232: Anthropology of Gender, Truman State University, April 19, 2017.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer Cultural Capital: An Asset-Based Theory.” Guest lecture for PSCYH 438: Queer Psychology, Truman State University, Dec. 6. 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Critical Literacy and Math.” Guest lecture for CI 395/595 Literacy in the Content Area: Reading and Literacy, Iowa State University, Nov. 10, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Gender and LGBTQ Issues in Education.” Guest lecture for EDMX 707 Reinventing Teaching, UNC-Chapel Hill, May 23, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “LGBTQ Issues for Youth Services Librarians.” Guest lecture for INLS 890: Youth Services in a Diverse Society, UNC- Chapel Hill, April 1, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Beyond Inclusion: Queer Pedagogy and Queer Math.” Guest Lecture for EDUC 390.08 - LGBTQ Issues in Education. March 28, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Stability in mobility: A model for learning.” Part of UNC’s LGBTQ Center’s Graduate Speaker Series, Mar. 1, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Dissertation writing tips.” Guest lecture for INLS PhD Writing Colloquium, UNC-Chapel Hill, Feb. 9, 2016.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queer Pedagogy.” Guest lecture for ENGL 548: Critical and Cultural Theory: Critical Literacy, Critical Theory, and Critical Pedagogy, Washington State University- Pullman, Nov. 5, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Intersectionality and education.” Guest lecture for WMST 890: Topics in Women’s Studies (Intersectionality), UNC-Chapel Hill, Nov. 3, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “How to turn your data into a paper.” Guest lecture for EDUC 868: Advanced Qualitative methods, UNC-Chapel Hill, Oct. 8, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. and Fede, B. “Math for a Cause: Queering a Middle School Math Class.” Part of UNC’s LGBTQ Center’s Graduate Speaker Series, Mar. 26, 2015.

  • Nisbet, P., Hankins, S. & Pennell, S. M. “Digital Art History – Perspectives from the Ackland Art Museum.” Panelist at The Ackland Art Museum. Moderated by Caroline Culbert, as part of The Digital Salon Series at UNC-Chapel Hill, Feb. 4, 2015.

  • Parkhouse, H. & Pennell, S. M. “Tools for Navigation: A Meta-ethnography of Latinas, gender, and sexuality.” Guest lecture for EDUC 871: Meta-Ethnography, UNC-Chapel Hill, Feb. 2, 2015.

  • Pennell, S. M. “Queering Critical Literacy.” Guest lecture for the Secondary English Master of Arts in Teaching candidates, UNC-Chapel Hill, Jan. 12, 2015.

  • Fede, B. & Pennell, S. M. “Queering Math Class: Critical Math and Queer Pedagogy in Middle School.” Part of UNC’s LGBTQ Center’s Graduate Speaker Series, April 24, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M. “LGBTQ Issues for Youth Services.” Guest lecture for INLS 890: Youth Services in a Diverse Society, UNC- Chapel Hill, April 11, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M. “LGBT Issues in Teaching.” Panel participant for MAT 744: Teaching Diverse Learners, Duke University, Feb. 24, 2014.

  • Noblit, G., Pennell, S. M. & Parkhouse, H. “Meta-ethnography Workshop.” Conducted at New Directions for Research and Evaluation: Meta-ethnography, participatory evaluation and mixed synthesis research. Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. Jan. 10, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M. & Parkhouse, H. “Meta-ethnography: Gender, Sexuality, and Latina Youth.” At New Directions for Research and Evaluation: Meta-ethnography, participatory evaluation and mixed synthesis research. Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. Jan. 12, 2014.

  • Pennell, S. M., Parker, D., & Parkhouse, H. “Cultural Competency for College Teaching.” Guest lecture for the Teaching Assistant’s in UNC’s Department of Philosophy. April 8, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “LGBTQ Issues for Teachers.” Guest lecture for the Secondary English Master of Arts in Teaching candidates, UNC-Chapel Hill, Jan. 14, 2013.

  • Pennell, S. M. “LGBTQ Issues in Schools.” Guest lecture for ECD 296-002 – Special Topics in Counselor Education: GLBT Lives, NC State University, Sept. 18, 2013.

MEDIA

SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

2021- present  Committee for Equity Action and Diversity (CEAD)

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY

  • 2020-present: Anti-Racism Committee, English & Linguistics Department

  • 2020-21: Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning Committee, Campus Culture sub-committee

  • 2020- 21: Research Advisor for Elyse Ellis, McNair Program

  • 2018-2019: Research Supervisor for Secondary English Master of Arts in Education (MAE) students Stephanie Fox & Rob Paine

  • 2018-2019: English MA committee member: Taylor Jokerst & Nicole Schroeder

  • 2018: Co-organizer of three lunch-and-learn talks for faculty and staff on intersectionality with other Social Justice Fellows called "Why Understanding Intersectionality Makes you Better at your Job."

    • Sept. 12, 2018: What is Intersectionality?

    • Oct. 10, 2018: Why is Intersectionality Important for me to Understand?

    • Nov. 14, 2018: How Can I apply Intersectionality to my Work?

  • May 6, 2018: Co-organizer of Truman's first Lavender Graduation

  • 2017-2018, Social Justice Fellow, Multicultural Affairs Center (MAC), now known as the Center for Diversity and Inclusion

  • 2017-2018: Research Supervisor for Secondary English Master of Arts in Education (MAE) students Christina Belt, Dani Eschweiler, Erin Hutchison, Kristina Kohl, Katie Lucarz, Connor Maguire, Jamie McBurnett, Sarah Slane, & Sarah Wappelhorst

  • 2017- 2020: English & Linguistics IRB Committee, member

  • 2017- present: Co-Advisor for Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society)

  • Aug. 14, 2017: Panel participant for English & Music Graduate Teaching and Research Assistants (GTRAs) on academic professionalism

  • Aug. 8, 2017: Scholastic Enhancement Experience (SEEs) Luncheon

  • 2016- present: Folklore Minor Committee

  • 2016-present: Gay and Lesbian Student Scholarship Committee; 2017-2018 Committee Co-Chair, 2018-2019 Committee Chair

  • 2016-present: Safe Zone Program Coordinator

  • 2016-2017: Research Advisor for Jessie Hope, McNair Program

  • 2016- 2017: Research Supervisor for Secondary English Master of Arts in Education (MAE) students Megan Dice, Geri Farrell, Janae Fritze, & Erica Raines,

NATIONAL

  • 2024, This Story Matters Teacher Corps, The Center for Intellectual Freedom, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • 2022, Secondary Nominating Committee, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • 2021, Committee Member, Bill Konigsberg Award for Acts and Activism for Equity and Inclusion through Young Adult Literature, Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English (ALAN)

  • 2019-2021, Past Chair, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Genders and Sexualities Equality Alliance (GSEA)

  • 2018, Committee Member, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) committee to rewrite the Statement on Gender and Language

  • 2018- present, Manuscript reviewer for English Teaching: Practice and Critique

  • 2017-2019, Chair, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Genders and Sexualities Equality Alliance (GSEA)

  • 2017-present, Member, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) LGBTQ Advisory Committee

  • 2016-present: Advisory Board Member, The High School Journal

  • 2015- present: Manuscript reviewer for English Education

  • 2012- present: Manuscript reviewer for The Urban Review

  • 2011: Member of the U.S. Department of Education’s Southeastern Regional Advisory Committee (RAC). Nominated by the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

REGIONAL

  • 2014-2015: President of Safe Schools NC

  • 2012-2014: Board Member, Safe Schools NC

  • 2010-2011: High School English Language Arts Content Learning Community (CLC) Leader, for Teach for America Eastern North Carolina

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

·       May, 2024. Writing in the Disciplines institute for writing-designated courses

·       Oct. 26. 2022: Rowland Conference attendance

·       Fall 2021: CTL sponsored book club for Equity-centered trauma informed education (Venet, 2021)

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Feb. 16, 2021: Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy (by Dr. April Baker-Bell)

  • Nov. 13, 2020: Remedying Digital Inequities (by Dr. Annie Oliveri)

  • Nov. 9, 2020: Understanding Anti-Racist Work (by Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera)

  • Oct. 22, 2020: Digital Equity: It's More Than Just Access: Identifying Digital Inequities (by Dr. Annie Oliveri)

  • Aug. 27, 2020: Trauma Informed Teaching

  • Feb. 8, 2020: Accessibility and Universal Design

  • April 18, 2019: Understanding First Generation Student Support

  • March 21, 2019: Civic Engagement 101

  • Oct. 29, 2017: Center for Diversity and Inclusion: Diversity Retreat participant

  • Oct. 4, 2017: Beyond the Binary

  • Jan. 10, 2017: RESPOND: Partnering for Campus Mental Health

ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

  • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

    • Genders and Sexualities Equality Alliance (GSEA): Chair, 2017-2019; Past Chair, 2020- 2021

    • English Language Arts Teacher Educators (ELATE): member

    • Social Justice Commission of ELATE: member

  • American Educational Research Association (AERA)

    • Critical Educators for Social Justice SIG of AERA: member

    • Queer SIG of AERA: member