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About meI am a queer scholar-activist making space for the stories, leadership, and knowledge of youth in rural areas with particular emphasis on the voices of youth with gendered, queer, racialized and ethnic experiences. I believe youth are powerful agents shaping their communities into places for collective thriving.
I am a Ph.D. student in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University. I also work as a Research Assistant with the Race, Ethnicity, Youth & Social Equity (REYSE) Research Collaboratory. I see all work related to research, education, and the environment as inherently political. Hence, my research and practice in youth development and environmental education are rooted in justice and applied towards collective liberation. |
Educational backgroundPh.D. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
Clemson University, Exp. 2026 M.S. Experiential & Outdoor Education Western Carolina University, 2022 B.A. Biological Sciences North Carolina State University, 2017 |
Research interestsMy research interests are informed by critical and post-structural perspectives of leisure entangled in the interconnections of social justice, youth development, and the environment. I am particularly interested in engaged research that interrogates power and privilege and uses theories and methodologies that challenge hegemonic white patriarchal idea(l)s of what counts as knowledge in academia.
Currently, I am exploring Appalachian cultural geographies, histories, and contemporary practices of resistance and solidarity; emancipatory environmental education; youth-led and intergenerational organizing; emotions (and particularly anger) in social justice; arts-based and creative methodologies; and post-qualitative inquiry. |
Research & PraxisTheory is not inherently healing, liberatory, or revolutionary. It fulfills this function only when we ask it to do so and direct our theorizing towards this end. -bell hooks My approach to research combines theory and practice (praxis) towards collective liberation. Please take a look at some of the publications and projects I have been a part of. If you cannot access an article, please email me ([email protected]) for an author copy.
Full Curriculum Vitae |
2023
Art as counternarratives: A/r/tographic understandings of Black youth’s conceptualizations of "nature"
Leisure, Race, and Racism (Book Chapter in Leisure Matters: Exploring Leisure in a Changing World)
Researcher as curator: Making room for the politics of emotion in leisure research
eeGuidance for equitable pay and hiring in environmental education (White Paper)
Can (or should) white women do Black Feminist Theory?: Exploring tensions, contradictions, and intersectionalities while performing justice-focused research
2022
Art zine of Black youth’s conceptualizations of "nature"
Anti-oppression self-expression: An a/r/tographic understanding of Black and Brown youth’s conceptualization(s) of "nature" (Master's Thesis)
Engaging youth as community leaders in outdoor education research, program design, and evaluation
WNC Nature Center's Young Naturalist program offers learning opportunities for teens (Press Release)
2021
$10,000 Youth Development & Nature-based Programming Grant from Children & Nature Network
Racially Diverse Speaker Series for Nature-based Teen Volunteer Program (Mini Grant)
Program awarded Significant Achievement in Education for Budgets Less than $8 million from Association of Zoos & Aquariums (Press Release)
Mountain teens give back as they explore nature with a passionate mentor (Press Release)
2020
Outstanding Practitioner Award 2020 from Environmental Educators of North Carolina (Press Release)
Children & Nature Network Natural Leader Profile (Press Release)
Art as counternarratives: A/r/tographic understandings of Black youth’s conceptualizations of "nature"
Leisure, Race, and Racism (Book Chapter in Leisure Matters: Exploring Leisure in a Changing World)
Researcher as curator: Making room for the politics of emotion in leisure research
eeGuidance for equitable pay and hiring in environmental education (White Paper)
Can (or should) white women do Black Feminist Theory?: Exploring tensions, contradictions, and intersectionalities while performing justice-focused research
2022
Art zine of Black youth’s conceptualizations of "nature"
Anti-oppression self-expression: An a/r/tographic understanding of Black and Brown youth’s conceptualization(s) of "nature" (Master's Thesis)
Engaging youth as community leaders in outdoor education research, program design, and evaluation
WNC Nature Center's Young Naturalist program offers learning opportunities for teens (Press Release)
2021
$10,000 Youth Development & Nature-based Programming Grant from Children & Nature Network
Racially Diverse Speaker Series for Nature-based Teen Volunteer Program (Mini Grant)
Program awarded Significant Achievement in Education for Budgets Less than $8 million from Association of Zoos & Aquariums (Press Release)
Mountain teens give back as they explore nature with a passionate mentor (Press Release)
2020
Outstanding Practitioner Award 2020 from Environmental Educators of North Carolina (Press Release)
Children & Nature Network Natural Leader Profile (Press Release)
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Presentations & LecturesFor the erotic is not a question only of what we do; it is a question of how acutely and fully we can feel in the doing. -Audre Lorde I am an artist, activist, environmental educator, youth advocate, and scholar. I love sharing work born out of these passions, especially when it is collaboratively created. Please take a look at some of the lectures and presentations I have been a part of.
Philosophy of Teaching Statement |
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2023
Schmidt, A., & Smith, C. (2023, June). Say what you mean, mean what you say: Race-conscious language to promote youth and nature equity. Accepted at Children & Nature Network Inside Out International Conference, Boulder, CO.
Schmidt, A., Outley, C., Schultz, C. (2023, February). Can (or should) white women do Black feminist theory? Presented at The Academy of Leisure Sciences Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
2022
Schmidt, A. (2022, May). Black and Brown youth’s artful counterstories of “nature” in the children and nature movement. Presented at the Children & Nature Network Inside-Out International Summit, Atlanta, GA.
Barg, H., & Schmidt, A. (2022, May). Youth Got the Power: Adult Allies in Youth-Led Movements. Workshop delivered at the Children & Nature Network Inside-Out International Summit, Atlanta, GA.
Schmidt, A. (2022, March). Anti-oppression Self-expression: An A/r/tographic Understanding of Black and Brown Youth’s Conceptualization(s) of Nature. Paper presented at The Academy of Leisure Sciences Annual Conference, virtual.
2021
Barg, H., & Schmidt, A. (2021, October). Youth Got the Power: Adult Allies in Youth-Led Movements. Session presented at the North American Association of Environmental Education National Conference, virtual.
2020
Butler, Z., & Schmidt, A. (2020, September). Evaluating Effective Biological Artifact Curation. Paper presented at Environmental Educators of North Carolina Annual Research Symposium, virtual.
INVITED GUEST LECTURES & COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
2023
An (incomplete!) Reflection on Anti-Oppressive Approaches to Research
LDAR 6949 - Research Strategies & Methods
University of Colorado
Analyzing Policies for Equity in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
2022
Let’s Talk About Gender
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
Religion & Spirituality
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
Questioning Power and Nature in Asheville
Everybody’s Environment Coalition of Western North Carolina
Graduate Student Research Project Pursuing Social Justice in PRM
PRM 275 - Diversity and Inclusion in Parks & Recreation Management
Western Carolina University
2023
Schmidt, A., & Smith, C. (2023, June). Say what you mean, mean what you say: Race-conscious language to promote youth and nature equity. Accepted at Children & Nature Network Inside Out International Conference, Boulder, CO.
Schmidt, A., Outley, C., Schultz, C. (2023, February). Can (or should) white women do Black feminist theory? Presented at The Academy of Leisure Sciences Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
2022
Schmidt, A. (2022, May). Black and Brown youth’s artful counterstories of “nature” in the children and nature movement. Presented at the Children & Nature Network Inside-Out International Summit, Atlanta, GA.
Barg, H., & Schmidt, A. (2022, May). Youth Got the Power: Adult Allies in Youth-Led Movements. Workshop delivered at the Children & Nature Network Inside-Out International Summit, Atlanta, GA.
Schmidt, A. (2022, March). Anti-oppression Self-expression: An A/r/tographic Understanding of Black and Brown Youth’s Conceptualization(s) of Nature. Paper presented at The Academy of Leisure Sciences Annual Conference, virtual.
2021
Barg, H., & Schmidt, A. (2021, October). Youth Got the Power: Adult Allies in Youth-Led Movements. Session presented at the North American Association of Environmental Education National Conference, virtual.
2020
Butler, Z., & Schmidt, A. (2020, September). Evaluating Effective Biological Artifact Curation. Paper presented at Environmental Educators of North Carolina Annual Research Symposium, virtual.
INVITED GUEST LECTURES & COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
2023
An (incomplete!) Reflection on Anti-Oppressive Approaches to Research
LDAR 6949 - Research Strategies & Methods
University of Colorado
Analyzing Policies for Equity in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
2022
Let’s Talk About Gender
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
Religion & Spirituality
PRTM 3250 - Global Perspectives in Leisure, Recreation & Tourism
Clemson University
Questioning Power and Nature in Asheville
Everybody’s Environment Coalition of Western North Carolina
Graduate Student Research Project Pursuing Social Justice in PRM
PRM 275 - Diversity and Inclusion in Parks & Recreation Management
Western Carolina University