Ruth M. Smith
Community Arts Educator
Specializing in community-building and engagement utilizing participatory, asset-based, and arts-based methods of development and research; qualitative research; and online teaching and learning.
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 with a minor in French
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-present
Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Kingston, Jamaica, Adjunct Faculty
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Assistant Professor of Teaching
Meaningful Inquiry endorsement (2021)
Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, community partner
WGSS 280 Intro to Women’s Studies, service-learning course focused on the intersections of religion and feminism. Led student workshops on ethics of storytelling, environmental portraiture, oral history interviews, and curating photonarrative exhibits. Project focused on experiences of Muslim American women through photography and storytelling.
2010-2014
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, GTA, instructor on record
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Current Projects:
Past Projects:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (selected)
PUBLICATIONS
PRESENTATIONS and INVITED LECTURES
2023
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, & HONORS (selected)
Teaching Endorsements, Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University
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 with a minor in French
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-present
Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Kingston, Jamaica, Adjunct Faculty
- Research Methods in Art Education (online)
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Assistant Professor of Teaching
Meaningful Inquiry endorsement (2021)
- AE 2367.03 Criticizing Television (online)
- 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 7607 Curriculum Planning and Assessment (online)
- AE 7707 Action Research Theory and Practice (online)
Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, community partner
WGSS 280 Intro to Women’s Studies, service-learning course focused on the intersections of religion and feminism. Led student workshops on ethics of storytelling, environmental portraiture, oral history interviews, and curating photonarrative exhibits. Project focused on experiences of Muslim American women through photography and storytelling.
2010-2014
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, GTA, 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
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Current Projects:
- Total Loss Teaching: A historical documentation of a pedagogy at Anderson University Department of Art + Design 1994-2014 and selected case studies of its impact on alumni in education. Interview and archive research. Funded in part by the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning Research and Implementation Grant
- Online Teaching and Learning Research, various projects
Past Projects:
- Getting to Know Our Muslim Neighbors (2015-2018) 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. 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
- History of the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy (2016). Interview and archive research.
- Dumarka Soomaaliyeed (Somali Women) Voices Unveiled (2012-2014) 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. 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
- Somali Women and Children’s Alliance (2010-2013), Columbus, OH. 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
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (selected)
- Community Engagement Consultant (2022-2023; 2019-2020), Columbus Episcopal Communities. Trained new church planting initiative in the Columbus Episcopal Diocese in participatory, community-based research practices, community listening, and community mapping towards the formation of two church plants. This included training workshops with the planting team, one-on-one consulting with lead pastor, and data analysis and visualization.
- Non-profit Consultant (2018-2019), 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.
- Community Engagement Coach (2017-2018), 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
- Program Coordinator (2014-2016), 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.
- Community Arts Programs Developer (2009-2010), 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.
PUBLICATIONS
- Smith, R. & Ballengee-Morris, C. (2023). Reflecting back and looking forward: Critical reflective practice in Ohio State’s Online MA in Art Education. Transformative Dialogues: Teaching and Learning Journal, 15(3), 65-81, https://doi.org/10.26209/td2023vol15iss31760
- Smith, R. (2022). The Stickiness of Muslim Neighbors: Creating and evaluating spaces for aesthetic engagement. Local Development & Society, 3(1), 106-124, DOI: 10.1080/26883597.2022.2045088.
- Smith, R. (2017/18). Beyond place: Diasporan creative placemaking. Journal of Art for Life.
- Smith, R. with Qorsho Hassan. (2017). Sheeko Xariir / A Story to Connect Us: Somali-American storytelling in the classroom. Journal of Folklore and Education, 4, 71-83. https://jfepublications.org/article/sheeko-xariir/
- Smith, R. and Qorsho 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. (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).
PRESENTATIONS and INVITED LECTURES
2023
- Finding community work in online teaching. Marantz Alumni Invited Lecture. The Ohio State University.
- The role of research in quality distance learning in higher education. Research Circle (organizer) with jt Richardson, Mario D’Agostino, Megan Decatur, Jeremie Smith & Ryann Patrus. National Art Education Association Research Preconvention (virtual).
- Peacebuilding through artmaking: Assessment of an arts-based peacebuilding initiative. National Art Education Association National Convention, Boston, MA.
- Actionable Strategies for Equitable Practice: Culturally Sustaining Teaching in the Arts. Panel with Allison Paul, Anne Thulson, Joni Acuff, Ruth Smith, & Sunny Spillane. National Art Education Conference, New York, NY.
- Creative, Collaborative, Culturally-Relevant Art Education with Immigrants and Refugees, Panel with Sascha Wellman, Ruth Smith, Marianna Pegno, & April Oswald. National Art Education Conference, New York, NY.
- Examining and engaging in community building processes among second generation Muslim migrants. Midwest World History Association Conference, St. Paul, MN. (virtual)
- Muslim American women: Representations and reality. United Methodist Women, Lafayette, IN. With Silai Mizroy.
- New arrivals, new voices: Discovering narrative participatory photography within Somali diaspora. International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
- Writing that works: Intentional pedagogy for your diverse and internationalized university classroom. National Art Education Association National Convention, Chicago, IL. With Veronica Betancourt.
- Exploring identity with young Somali women through narrative participatory photography. 12th Somali Studies International Association Congress, Helsinki, Finland. (Could not attend).
- Writing that works: Intentional pedagogy for your university classroom. National Art Education Association National Convention, New Orleans, LA. With Veronica Betancourt.
- Interrupting perceptions and practices with artmaking, Tenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
- Contemplating challenges and possibilities of Participatory Action Research (PAR) in Art Education. National Art Education Association National Convention, San Diego, CA
- The truth about stories: Making a commitment to Narrative Inquiry. National Art Education Association National Convention, San Diego, CA.
- How Socially Engaged Art (SEA) transformed a digital artmaking service-learning course. National Art Education Association National Convention, San Diego, CA.
- Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled: a nomadic model of collaborative community arts practice. National Art Education Association National Convention, San Diego, CA.
- Jean-Luc Nancy and community in Dumarka Soomaaliyeed, a participatory action research (PAR) project with young Somali women. Graduate Research in Art Education, Penn State University.
- Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled: A participatory exhibit, a participatory action research study. Ninth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
- Community Research Panel. Art Education 7890 Colloquium, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
- Sense and Nonsense in Community-Based Art Education. United States Society of Educators in the Arts National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
- Re-examining Arts Programs: Collaborative and Community-Based Research Practices in Two Nontraditional Settings. With Morgan Green. National Art Education Association National Convention, New York City, NY.
- Making a Difference: Designing (change) in Community Settings. Guest lecturer for Art Education 483/683: Positioning Passions, Dr. James Sanders, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
- Deleuze and community education: Encountering practice. Guest lecturer for Art Education 703: Contemporary Theory in Art Education, Dr. Kevin Tavin, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
- Collaborative program design at the Somali Women & Children's Alliance. Ohio Arts Research Symposium, Columbus, OH.
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, & HONORS (selected)
Teaching Endorsements, Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University
- Online Course Design
- Meaningful Inquiry
- Marantz Alumni Award, AAEP, The Ohio State University (2023)
- SoTL Learning Community, Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University (2022)
- University Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University, Graduate Associate Teaching Award (nominated 2011)
- Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellowship, The Ohio State University, $3,000 stipend to support service project promoting community health education, “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled” (2012)
- Center for Public Service Fellow, Anderson University (2008)
- Resource Grant, Center for Congregations, $15,000 for two consultants at Trinity UMC, Lafayette (2018)
- Urban Transitional Community Grant, INUMC Church Development, $25,000 for one-year community engagement coach to Trinity UMC, Lafayette. (2017)
- Purdue Student Service-Learning Grant Program for Community Service/Service Learning Projects, Purdue University, $850 to support Muslim Neighbors project. Served as community sponsor. (2016)
- Puffin West Foundation Grant, $1,700 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled” (2013)
- Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $500 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled” (2013)
- Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Ohio Alliance for Art Education, $1,000 for “Dumarka Soomaaliyeed Voices Unveiled” (2012)
- Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grant, Greater Columbus Arts Council, $750 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Summer Arts Camp” (2011)
- Idea Lab Grant, The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, $700 for “Somali Women and Children’s Alliance Youth Arts Programs” (2011)
