Ruth M. Smith
Community Arts Educator
Specializing in community building and engagement utilizing participatory, asset-based, and arts-based methods of development and research.
EDUCATION
2014 - PhD, The Ohio State University, Arts Administration, Education and Policy
2012 - MA, The Ohio State University, Art Education with a specialization in Museum Education and Management
2009 - BA, Anderson University, IN, Studio Arts minor in French
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (selected)
2018-2019 - Non-profit Consultant, Trinity United Methodist Church
Guided a team to launch an ecumenical non-profit to support historic preservation and encourage use of religious buildings of significance in Lafayette, IN. Included grantwriting and working with the team to develop a vision and mission, SWOT and TOWS analysis, strategic plan, business plan, fundraising plan, and board development. In addition, coached team members on networking, communications, project and program management, and grantwriting. Supported by Center for Congregations Resource Grant.
2017-2018 - Community Engagement Coach, Trinity United Methodist Church
Coached staff and volunteers on community engagement. Included grantwriting, program development and evaluation, building community partnerships, and strategic planning. First 12 Pre-Planting Training. Supported by Urban Transitional Community Grant, INUMC Church Development
2014-2016 - Program Coordinator, Online MA in Art Education, The Ohio State University
Developed program curriculum and assessment; developed and implemented marketing budget and plan, including online and print advertising, website development and management, marketing analytics; recruitment including communication with alumni and potential students; navigated institutional procedures, processes, and policies through program and course development and approval.
2009-2010 - Community Arts Programs Developer, AmeriCorps*VISTA at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Developed and implemented neighborhood arts programs; created and implemented arts-integration training for preschool teachers; created curriculum for Museum Apprentice Program; Recruited, mentored and supervised teen and adult volunteers and teaching artists.
COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCH
2015-2018 - Getting to Know Our Muslim Neighbors with Marcus Smith, Haroon Mohammad, Silai Mirzoy, and the Saturday Fajr Group
Community-based project addressing Islamophobia, building local interfaith connections, and contributing diverse stories to the Muslim American narrative. Includes panels about Muslim American experience at local churches, a photonarrative exhibit including website exploring the experiences of young Muslim Americans living in Lafayette, Indiana, and interfaith dialogue events. Project website: www.muslimneighbors.com. Led to the creation of the Interfaith Leaders of Greater Lafayette in 2016. Supported by a Purdue University Community Engagement and Service-Learning grant, Muslim Initiatives Fund, and a GoFundMe campaign. Exhibited at Fuel Coffee House, Trinity United Methodist Church, West Lafayette Public Library, IU White Memorial Hospital, Monticello Public Library, Tippecanoe Arts Federation
2013-2015 - Dumarka Soomaaliyeed (Somali Women) Voices Unveiled with Somali Women and Children’s Alliance and Qorsho Hassan
Exhibition of collaborative photography and oral history interviews featuring the experiences of community of young Somali women in Columbus, OH. Also planned and taught participatory photography workshops for youth at each location. Project website: www.dumarkasoomaaliyeedvoicesunveile.weebly.com. Supported by the Somali Women and Children's Alliance, the Schweitzer Fellowship and grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Puffin Foundation. Exhibited at several Columbus Metropolitan Library locations and the Westerville Public Library
2010-2013 - Somali Women and Children’s Alliance, Columbus, OH
Volunteer afterschool program teacher, developed and implemented summer arts camp as a result of a PAR study (2011), grant writing, program development including Somali Cultural Festival planning committee (2011, 2012), exhibition curator, and public education programs
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-present - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Adjunct Assistant Professor
AE 6998 Non-Thesis Hours (online)
AE 7200.1 Research Methodologies and Methods in Art Education
AE 7200.3 Research Methodologies and Methods in Art Education (online)
AE 2367.03 Criticizing Television (online)
2010-2014 - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Graduate Teaching Associate, instructor on record
AE 2367.03 Criticizing Television (online)
AE 2520s A Service Learning Experience in the Computer in the Visual Arts
AE 367.01 Ethnic Arts: A Means for Intercultural Communication
PUBLICATIONS
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, & HONORS (selected)
2018
Resource Grant, Center for Congregations, $15,000 for two consultants at Trinity UMC, Lafayette
2017
Urban Transitional Community Grant, INUMC Church Development, $25,000 for one-year community engagement coach to Trinity UMC, Lafayette.
2016
Purdue Student Service-Learning Grant Program for Community Service/Service Learning Projects, Purdue University, $850 to support Muslim Neighbors project. Served as community sponsor.
2013
Puffin West Foundation Grant, $1,700 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $500 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
2012
Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellowship, The Ohio State University, $3,000 stipend to support service project promoting community health education, “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Ohio Alliance for Art Education, $1,000 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Neighborhood Partnership Grant, Columbus Foundation and United Way of Central Ohio, $2,600 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
USBancorps Foundation, $1,000 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
Project Support Grant, Greater Columbus Arts Council, $1,500 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
2011
University Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University, Graduate Associate Teaching Award (nominated)
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Greater Columbus Arts Council, $750 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Summer Arts Camp”
Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $700 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Youth Arts Programs”
2008
Center for Public Service Fellow, Anderson University
2007
Regional Scholarship, Alpha Chi National Conference
National Scholarship, Alpha Chi National Conference
Presentation Award, Alpha Chi National Conference
EDUCATION
2014 - PhD, The Ohio State University, Arts Administration, Education and Policy
2012 - MA, The Ohio State University, Art Education with a specialization in Museum Education and Management
2009 - BA, Anderson University, IN, Studio Arts minor in French
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (selected)
2018-2019 - Non-profit Consultant, Trinity United Methodist Church
Guided a team to launch an ecumenical non-profit to support historic preservation and encourage use of religious buildings of significance in Lafayette, IN. Included grantwriting and working with the team to develop a vision and mission, SWOT and TOWS analysis, strategic plan, business plan, fundraising plan, and board development. In addition, coached team members on networking, communications, project and program management, and grantwriting. Supported by Center for Congregations Resource Grant.
2017-2018 - Community Engagement Coach, Trinity United Methodist Church
Coached staff and volunteers on community engagement. Included grantwriting, program development and evaluation, building community partnerships, and strategic planning. First 12 Pre-Planting Training. Supported by Urban Transitional Community Grant, INUMC Church Development
2014-2016 - Program Coordinator, Online MA in Art Education, The Ohio State University
Developed program curriculum and assessment; developed and implemented marketing budget and plan, including online and print advertising, website development and management, marketing analytics; recruitment including communication with alumni and potential students; navigated institutional procedures, processes, and policies through program and course development and approval.
2009-2010 - Community Arts Programs Developer, AmeriCorps*VISTA at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Developed and implemented neighborhood arts programs; created and implemented arts-integration training for preschool teachers; created curriculum for Museum Apprentice Program; Recruited, mentored and supervised teen and adult volunteers and teaching artists.
COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCH
2015-2018 - Getting to Know Our Muslim Neighbors with Marcus Smith, Haroon Mohammad, Silai Mirzoy, and the Saturday Fajr Group
Community-based project addressing Islamophobia, building local interfaith connections, and contributing diverse stories to the Muslim American narrative. Includes panels about Muslim American experience at local churches, a photonarrative exhibit including website exploring the experiences of young Muslim Americans living in Lafayette, Indiana, and interfaith dialogue events. Project website: www.muslimneighbors.com. Led to the creation of the Interfaith Leaders of Greater Lafayette in 2016. Supported by a Purdue University Community Engagement and Service-Learning grant, Muslim Initiatives Fund, and a GoFundMe campaign. Exhibited at Fuel Coffee House, Trinity United Methodist Church, West Lafayette Public Library, IU White Memorial Hospital, Monticello Public Library, Tippecanoe Arts Federation
2013-2015 - Dumarka Soomaaliyeed (Somali Women) Voices Unveiled with Somali Women and Children’s Alliance and Qorsho Hassan
Exhibition of collaborative photography and oral history interviews featuring the experiences of community of young Somali women in Columbus, OH. Also planned and taught participatory photography workshops for youth at each location. Project website: www.dumarkasoomaaliyeedvoicesunveile.weebly.com. Supported by the Somali Women and Children's Alliance, the Schweitzer Fellowship and grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Puffin Foundation. Exhibited at several Columbus Metropolitan Library locations and the Westerville Public Library
2010-2013 - Somali Women and Children’s Alliance, Columbus, OH
Volunteer afterschool program teacher, developed and implemented summer arts camp as a result of a PAR study (2011), grant writing, program development including Somali Cultural Festival planning committee (2011, 2012), exhibition curator, and public education programs
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-present - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Adjunct Assistant Professor
AE 6998 Non-Thesis Hours (online)
AE 7200.1 Research Methodologies and Methods in Art Education
AE 7200.3 Research Methodologies and Methods in Art Education (online)
AE 2367.03 Criticizing Television (online)
2010-2014 - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Graduate Teaching Associate, instructor on record
AE 2367.03 Criticizing Television (online)
AE 2520s A Service Learning Experience in the Computer in the Visual Arts
AE 367.01 Ethnic Arts: A Means for Intercultural Communication
PUBLICATIONS
- Smith, R. (in process). Beyond faith: Creating and evaluating spaces for aesthetic engagement.
- Smith, R. (in process). At the interstices: Evaluating community arts practice.
- Smith, R. with Q. Hassan. (2017). Sheeko Xariir/A Story to Connect Us: Somali-American Storytelling in the Classroom. Journal of Ethnography and Education.
- Smith, R. and Q. Hassan. (2017). Urur dhex-dhexad ah/Community in between. Columbus, OH: Trillium Press.
- Smith, R. (2017). New voices and narrative participatory photography: A culturally relevant method for intercultural dialogue. In L. Hersey (Ed.), Handbook of Research on the Facilitation of Civic Engagement through Community Art. IGI-Global.
- Smith, R. (2016/17). Beyond place: Diasporan creative placemaking. Journal of Art for Life.
- Smith, R. (2015). Encountering methodology through art: A Deleuzoguattarian territory of action research. Action Research, 14(1), 36-53.
- Smith, R. (2015). Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled: Undoing the hijab narrative through a participatory photography exhibition. jCRAE, 32, 190-206.
- Smith, R. (2014). Young Somali women’s individual and collective understanding of cultural and religious identity through narrative participatory photography. Bildhaan, 14, 25-49.
- Smith, R. (2014). Young Somali women and narrative participatory photography: Interrupting fixed perceptions in Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled. (Doctoral dissertation).
- Smith, R. M. (2012). Encountering Practice: An exploration of Deleuze and collaboration in the Somali Women and Children's Alliance Summer Arts Camp. (Master’s thesis).
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, & HONORS (selected)
2018
Resource Grant, Center for Congregations, $15,000 for two consultants at Trinity UMC, Lafayette
2017
Urban Transitional Community Grant, INUMC Church Development, $25,000 for one-year community engagement coach to Trinity UMC, Lafayette.
2016
Purdue Student Service-Learning Grant Program for Community Service/Service Learning Projects, Purdue University, $850 to support Muslim Neighbors project. Served as community sponsor.
2013
Puffin West Foundation Grant, $1,700 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $500 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
2012
Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellowship, The Ohio State University, $3,000 stipend to support service project promoting community health education, “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Ohio Alliance for Art Education, $1,000 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled”
Neighborhood Partnership Grant, Columbus Foundation and United Way of Central Ohio, $2,600 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
USBancorps Foundation, $1,000 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
Project Support Grant, Greater Columbus Arts Council, $1,500 for “Somali Cultural Festival”
2011
University Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University, Graduate Associate Teaching Award (nominated)
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Greater Columbus Arts Council, $750 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Summer Arts Camp”
Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $700 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Youth Arts Programs”
2008
Center for Public Service Fellow, Anderson University
2007
Regional Scholarship, Alpha Chi National Conference
National Scholarship, Alpha Chi National Conference
Presentation Award, Alpha Chi National Conference
