2017/2018

Creative Work: Scholarly Writing/Presentation Coach

Scholarly Equivalency - Book

Hart's Contribution as a Scholarly Writing/Presentation Coach

Blackademics TV is a unique opportunity for me to utilize my expertise as a writer and my knowledge of public-focused dramaturgy. Public-focused dramaturgical efforts function to contextualize and offer frameworks for interpretation, critique and analysis.

This was my fifth year working on the series as a scholarly writing/presentation coach. Serving as a scholar coach for consecutive years helps create a consistent high quality aesthetic for the series. This kind of consistency and attention to excellence produces a series that has both artistic and commercial merit.

The focus of the series is to offer scholarship to local, national and global communities through live studio participation, the internet and television. The finished product reaches approximately 3 million television viewers and airs in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida. The seres is also available via the internet on the 350 PBS member stations that serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

In my role I provide support and training for a cohort of up to six nationally and/or internationally recognized scholars, artists and activists preparing them to write compelling scholarly researched based presentations to communicate their research focus for a television audience and conduct interactive, engaging academic presentations.

The scholar presenters are the "face" of the series. With my help scholar presenters create a nine minute segment that focuses on their research expertise and interest.

The selection process is highly competitive. Scholars must submit a research abstract and a committee of scholars makes the final selection of twelve scholars for each cohort. Over a twelve week process I hold writing and coaching sessions with each of my six scholars to review and provide feedback on their research abstract. Next, the scholars submit a draft outline of their research critique based presentation. The critique focuses on the strengths and limitations of the research. We engage in discussion and brainstorming via at least two teleconferences or videoconferences to further develop their presentation and analyze the merits and faults of their critique. As we move to the final presentation draft I help the scholars title their talk and pay special attention to editing to create a nine minute presentation segment centered on the scholars research focus.

Of note, as a result of the specific research focus of each scholar, the content focus of the papers is quite varied. During the 2018 season the scholars I supported included: cultural anthropologist Dr. Robert Adams, Dr. Paula Gerstenblatt Assistant Professor of social work, Chef Kabui an afro-futuristic chef and associate professor, Dr. Venus E. Evans-Winters, who focused on "Racialized Trauma: Inside and Outside of Schools." Through my work as a scholar coach I help shape the advancement of scholarly and public discourse on a wide variety of research subjects.

Once I and the cohort of scholars arrives in Austin I continue to advise the scholar presenters on set for the live taping by being present and supportive during the rehearsal sessions preceding each recording session.

The contribution and outcome of my coaching is consistent high quality researched based presentations that are nationally broadcast and distributed around the world via PBS television stations and electronic media.

Creative Work: Managing Editor of Peer Reviewed Journal

Scholarly Equivalency - Refereed Article

Hart's Contribution as Managing Editor of Peer Reviewed Journal

Continuum: the Journal of African Diaspora Drama, Theatre and Performance is published by The Black Theatre Network (BTN). For 30 years, the Black Theatre Network has collected, processed and distributed information that supports the professional and personal development of its membership (comprised of individuals engaged in the full range of theatre professions, professional and community theatres and organizations, and academic institutions). The Black Theatre Network (BTN) is an inclusive organization, run by a volunteer board, that:

• Provides Black Theatre artists and scholars with a milieu for communicating and exchanging ideas
• Provides a national forum for the examination, discussion and planning of theatre events
• Encourages the production of plays about the Black experience at home and abroad
• Disseminates employment & career development opportunities in theatre to its members
• Supports development & production of theatre events at local, regional, and national levels
• Honors & celebrates the pioneers & practitioners who have impacted the American Theatre

The managing editor is nominated by the Continuum editorial board and approved by a majority vote of the Black Theatre Network Board. In my role as Managing Editor of the journal my contributions to sharing the scholarship of Black Theatre artists and scholars include:

• Maintain and facilitate communication between the Continuum Editorial Board and the BTN Board
• Formulate, institute and maintain policies for the management and production of the journal
• Preside at all journal e-board meetings
• Prepare an agenda and convene meetings of the Editorial Board as needed
• Maintain and facilitate communication among board members, authors, the web designer and all connected with production of the journal
• Insure that all legal documents, authors’ agreements, etc. are properly maintained and recorded
• Keep track of financial contributions to the journal
• Assist and support the web designers and editors in production of the journal
• Social Media Marketing