I'M CASSIDY, A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER.
hello!
A two-time graduate from The University of Alabama, I earned my Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies in May 2016 and my Bachelor of Arts degree in History in December 2013. I also hold an undergraduate certificate in Global Studies.
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My interests lie at the intersection of activism and the academy. I consider myself an activist-scholar, and am interested in ways to build bridges between these communities. Specifically, I'm interested in theoretical interventions that are developed "in the trenches" of activism (a la E. Patrick Johnson's "Quare Theory").
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My work with activist groups both as a student on campus and as a citizen in the greater-Tuscaloosa community has allowed me to build skills with branding, advertising, and social media management. More information about these passion projects can be located on the "portfolio" tab.
p r o f e s s i o n a l
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE & RESEARCH
E X P E R I E N C E
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Graduate Teaching Instructor. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, Denver, CO. 2017 - present.
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Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies. Lawson State Community College, Birmingham, AL. January 2017- August 2017.
Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies. Jefferson State Community College, Birmingham, AL. January 2017 - May 2017.
Adjunct Instructor of Women’s Studies. Judson College, Marion, AL. January 2017 - May 2017.
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Volunteer Coordinator. Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. Tuscaloosa, AL. October 2016 - January 2017.
Court Advocate. Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. Tuscaloosa, AL. July 2016 - October 2016.
Graduate Teaching Assistant. College of Communication and Information Sciences. Department of Communication Studies. The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. August 2015 - May 2016.
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Adjunct Instructor. College of Arts and Sciences. Department of Gender and Race Studies. The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. January 2015 - May 2015.
R E C E N T P R E S E N T A T I O N S
Prohaska, A. & Ellis, C. D. (2017). Subversive scholarship or anti-intellectual identity politics? An
analysis of media frames of fat studies. To be presented at the National Communication Association Convention – American Studies Division. Dallas, TX. November.
Ellis, C. D. (2017). “Ask an Activist.” Panel participant at the National Communication Association
Convention – Activism and Social Justice Division. Dallas, TX. November.
Ellis, C. D. (2017). Searching for a Pulse: Analyzing (Re)Constructions of Online Queer Spaces Post-Pulse
Orlando Shooting. Presented at Southern States Communication Association Annual Conference - Intercultural Communication Division. Greenville, SC, April.
Ellis, C. D. (2017) Watson’s Invitation to the Oppressor: The Implications of Audience on Invitational Rhetoric.
Presented at the Southern States Communication Association Annual Conference – Rhetoric and Public Address Division. Greenville, SC, April.
See my vita to see a comprehensive list of scholarly peer-reviewed presentations, as well as invited panel presentations and invited talks.
P U B L I C A T I O N S
ACADEMIC & NON-ACADEMIC
A C A D E M I C
Prohaska, A. & Ellis, C. D. (2017). Subversive scholarship or anti-intellectual identity politics? An analysis of media frames of fat studies. Fat Studies, doi: 10.1080/21604851.2017.1293388
N O N - A C A D E M I C
The Crimson White
To access all the CW articles I've had published, click here, and to see those in which I have been quoted or mentioned, click here.
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"Response to 'Southern women face prejudice, benefit from chivalry'"
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"On Hillary Clinton and the silence of her supporters"
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"We're building a space for people to be able to come and learn about feminism and feminist issues but then also be prepared to go out and be active for those issues...We really pride ourselves on being intersectional and getting people from all backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations involved so that we can be an inclusive organization that works for the liberation of every person." - Graduate student founds UA Feminist Caucus
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The Radical Notion
I was a contributing blogger for The Radical Notion for several months. A sample of my posts are below and more can be found here.
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"Are the 'Walk A Mile in Her Shoes' Campus Events Problematic?"
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"How Attempts to Defund Planned Parenthood Are Racist and Classist"
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"A fat person who loves themself, accepts themself, and celebrates themself is radical. They celebrate breaking boundaries, because boundaries set by society need to be broken for social change to occur... For people whose bodies break boundaries, we have to let society’s reprimands roll out of our minds like water on the back of a duck. For people whose bodies break boundaries, we must fight back with radical self-love and acceptance." - Bodies that Break Boundaries
A C T I V I S M
I have been involved in several activist endeavors since 2014, which has allowed me to build organizing and leadership skills as well as skills related to social media management and graphic design.
I founded the award-winning UA Feminist Caucus (UAFC), the first feminist activist organization at The University of Alabama, in 2014. Under my two years of leadership, UAFC grew into one of the largest, most successful student organizations on campus. This included winning the campus-wide Outstanding New Organization award in spring 2015.
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In 2015 I began coordinating clinic escorting services for the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, AL. To formalize the group, I began organizing volunteers under the name West Alabama Clinic Defenders (WACD) in 2016. Since 2015, WACD has grown a volunteer base of nearly 100, held public awareness-raising events, and raised funds for regional abortion funds. In 2017, a group of dedicated volunteers and I began working to found the Yellowhammer Fund, the first state-wide abortion fund affiliated with the National Network of Abortion Funds. I currently serve as Vice President of the Yellowhammer Fund and am a member of the fund's Board of Directors. We intend to begin funding patients in late 2017-early 2018.
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In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, a time of confusion and sadness for many, I began working with a group of women in Tuscaloosa to establish the Kudzu Coalition of West Alabama, a new community organization dedicated to progressive grassroots activism. Kudzu Coalition has become a prominent organization in the community through consistently pressuring our state senator, Richard Shelby, to hold a town hall. These #ShowUpShelby demonstrations have been covered in regional and state-wide news media. Kudzu Coalition has also become closely involved with groups like the Tuscaloosa Democratic Party and the West Alabama Clinic Defenders.
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These experiences have enriched my scholarship, giving me on-the-ground experience that is sometimes absent from theoretical interventions and lacking from research projects. Because I consider myself an activist-scholar, I intend to continue seeking avenues for activism in conjunction with my scholarship.
CONTACT
I'm always happy to chat about my research or collaboration, and can be booked for speaking engagements on topics related to feminism and grassroots activism.
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Let's talk!