CV

Valerie A. Smith

Lecturer of English
Kennesaw State University
440 Bartow Avenue
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Vsmith37@kennesaw.edu

BOOK PUBLICATION
Back to Alabama, Sundress Publications 2024

EDUCATION
PhD in English, Georgia State University 2022
Dissertation: “Threshing Floor: Poetry Inspired by the Black Arts Movement”
Relevant Research:
Community-Engaged Writing and Service Projects in First-Year Composition
Grammar and Syntax in Poetry: An Annotated Bibliography
Michael S. Harper: Poetry of the Black Arts Movement
Claude McKay and Maya Angelou: A Critical Analysis
Practical Application of Wordsworth’s Romanticism on James Wright’s “But Only Mine”
Analysis of “Holy Sonnet 14” by John Donne
A Line Explication and Freytag’s Analysis of James Wright’s “A Blessing”
A Line Explication of James Wright’s “Saint Judas”
Time Structures in Toni Morrison’s Novels: An Annotated Bibliography
Gardens in the Dunes: Confronting Native American Boarding Schools in Fiction
Relevant Coursework:
Composition Pedagogy; Practical Grammar; Literary Criticism
Form and Theory in Poetry; 20th Century American Poetry; Contemporary Poetry
20th Century American Fiction; 16th Century English Literature
Modern American Fiction; Form and Theory in Fiction

MA in Professional Writing, Kennesaw State University 2018
Capstone: Poetry Portfolio, “Imprimatur”
Relevant Research:
African American Contemporary Women Poets
The Effectiveness of Silence as a Rhetorical Device in Digital Media
Relevant Coursework:
Teaching Composition in High School and College
Understanding Writing as a Process
Professional and Academic Editing
Poetry Writing; Creative Nonfiction Writing; Fiction Writing

BA in English, University of Alabama in Huntsville 1999
Major: English Literature; Minor: Russian Language
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Lecturer of English, Kennesaw State University 2021–Present
Teaching (90%): 5/4/2. 100-130 students each semester
Modality: 100% seated, 33% hybrid, 50% hybrid, and 100% online
Courses:
English 1101 Composition I and English 1102 Composition II
English Major: Understanding Creative Writing Genres
Honors Discovery: Creative Writing
Service (10%):
English Department Committee on Online Learning 2024–Present
Judge. The English Department Poetry Contest 2024
Judge. The Headlight Review Chapbook Contest 2023–2024
Georgia Writers Working Board 2023–2024
RCHSS “365 Days of Learning and Service” Committee 2023
English 1102 Super Shell Creation Team 2023
Co-Host. “KSUnity.” Poetry Open Mic and Listening Session 2023
Research Course Codification. It’s About Engagement/QEP 2022–Present
Reviewer. KSU Department of English Poetry Contest 2022
Co-Host. “Unmute Your Mic.” Community Through Poetry Open Mic 2022
First-Year Composition Committee 2021–Present
English Lecturer Caucus 2021–Present
Certifications in Digital Learning Innovations (DLI):
English 1102 Online Asynchronous Course 2025
Understanding Creative Writing Genres 2023
English 1101 Online Asynchronous Course 2022
English 1102 Hybrid Course 2022
Building and Teaching Hybrid and Online Courses 2022

Adjunct Instructor of English, Georgia State University 2018–2021
Courses: English Composition I and II, Introduction to Poetry, Practical Grammar
Service:
Assistant Editor of Five Points: A Journal of Literature and Art, vol. 19-21. 2020–2021
Secretary, Graduate English Association 2019–2020
Contributor to Guide to First Year Writing 2019–2020
Writing Studio Assistant 2018–2020

Adjunct Instructor of English, Chattahoochee Technical College 2018–2020
Courses: English 1101 Composition I, English 1102 Composition II

Adjunct Instructor of English, Kennesaw State University 2015–2018
Courses: English Composition I and II
Service:
Writing Center Assistant 2015–2018
Profiles of Graduate Research Assistants, KSU Office of Graduate Studies 2016
Grade Appeal Advisory Panel 2017

POETRY PUBLICATIONS
2026

  • “You’re A Few Years Older Than Me“ and “Fleetwood Mac: A Package Deal.” White Winged Doves: A Stevie Nicks Poetry Anthology, Forthcoming, 2026.

2025

  • “With Mom.” Hamilton Stone Review, Issue 53, Fall 2025.

2024

  • Back to Alabama. Sundress Publications, 2024.
  • “Neither the One Who Plants.” Thimble Literary Magazine. Winter 2024.
  • “Introduction to Music.” Assignment Literary Magazine. Fall 2024.
  • “The Rock and the Sky.” Ekstasis Magazine. Summer 2024.
  • “15 reasons why you mad Brittney Griner is free.” Bellingham Review. Spring 2024.
  • “Winter.” The Ocotillo Review. February 2024.
  • “The Carpet.” Ekstasis Magazine. Spring 2024.
  • “Curlie Raised the Blues” (second publication) and “Carol ‘Money’ Blue married in.” Shō Poetry Journal. January 2024.

2023

  • “I’m mapping out my bruises.” Stone Circle Review. Fall 2023.
  • “Mass.” Porcupine Literary, Fall 2023.
  • “Application for Angels” and “Queen & Slim.” The South Carolina Review, vol. 56.1, Fall 2023.
  • “After Night Rain.” Sunspot Literary Review, vol. 5.2, July 2023.
  • “The Cost of Living.” Hoxie Gorge Review. Fall 2023.
  • “Desire.” Solstice Literary Magazine. Summer 2023.

2022

  • “No Better.” Radix Magazine, Fall 2022.
  • “Save a Black Girl.” Foothill Poetry Journal, Fall 2022.
  • “Unreliable Narrator.” Aunt Chloe: A Journal of Artful Candor. Fall 2022.
  • “Curlie Raised the Blues,” “Whitney & Robyn,” “Baby Archie,” “Exodus,” and “Rain on a September Morning.” Weber—The Contemporary West. Fall 2022.
  • “Si, Lo Sono Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito” and “No was born on a warm afternoon in December.” Wayne Literary Review, Spring 2022.
  • “Serena Williams vs Mark Knight.” Spectrum, vol. LXV, Spring 2022.
  • “Weep with Those Who Weep.” Crosswinds Poetry Journal, vol. VIII, 2022.
  • “Harriet Tubman as a Caseworker.” Dogwood: A Journal of Poetry and Prose, vol. 21: 2022.

2021

  • “Miles Davis: The Horn, The Iris, and The Sorcerer.” Aunt Chloe: A Journal of Artful Candor, Issue 2021.w.3, Fall 2021.
  • “The Sugar Shack” and “These are the rules on your weekend home from the psych ward.” Typehouse Literary Magazine, vol. 8, no. 3, issue 23, 2021.
  • “Holy City: Charleston, SC.” Oyster River Pages, 5.1, August 2021.
  • “The Other Nine,” “Threshing Floor,” and “Return.” Obsidian, vol. 46.1, pp. 16-19. Obsidian Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, 2021. Print.

2020

  • “The First Sunday Morning in November.” Ariel Chart, September 2020.
  • “Black Don’t Crack and Other Tales in Multiple Choice.” Wayne Literary Review, vol. 2020, pp. 24-25, Wayne State University Department of English, 2020.
  • “Expert of the Apricot Groves.” Solstice Literary Magazine, Spring 2020.

2019

  • “Burn the whole thing.” Call and Response Journal, Nov. 7, 2019.
  • “Alice Walker’s 75th Birthday Celebration, Eatonton, Georgia.” Call and Response Journal, Nov. 7, 2019.
  • “The Spare Bedroom.” The Crambo, vol. 2, Article 11, Mar. 6, 2019, Kennesaw State University.

2018

  • “Legion: For We Are Many.” Auburn Avenue, Autumn/Winter 2018.
  • “Winter in Georgia.” Auburn Avenue, Autumn/Winter 2018.

2017

  • “Back to Alabama.” Auburn Avenue, Autumn/Winter 2017.
  • “Curlie Blue.” South 85, Spring/Summer 2017.

2016

  • “Moon Rising” and “[The Ocean].” Exit 271: Your Georgia Writers Resource, Winter 2016, p. 68.

2015

  • “The Man in Our Family Portrait,” “To Function or Operate Properly,” “Mittraphap Road,” “Treating Sarge & Betty to Ice Cream,” and “Guilty.” BlazeVox, Spring 2015, pp. 1-5.
    NONFICTION PUBLICATIONS
  • “The Cadet.” South 85, Fall/Winter 2020.
  • “Review of Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry,” by Jane Hirshfield. Pennsylvania Literary Journal, vol. X, Issue 3, Fall 2018, pp. 89-91.
  • “The Living Language.” The English Broadside, Spring 2016, pp. 9-14, Kennesaw State University Department of English.
    CONFERENCES
    2025
  • Presenter. USG Teaching & Learning Conference, “How Do You Feel About This Assignment?”
  • Presenter. USG Teaching & Learning Conference, “No More Social Media Essays: A Path to Diverse Research Topics.”

2024

  • Panelist. “Deciphering the “I” in First-Person Writing.” SAMLA 96: Seen/Unseen. South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference.
  • Attendee for Professional Development. USG Teaching and Learning Conference.
  • Panelist. “The Importance of Place in Poetry.” Red Clay Writers Conference.
  • Panelist. “Claiming Your Expertise + Updating Your Webpage.” KSU English Department.

2023

  • Panel Chair. “SAMLA Poets.” SAMLA 95: (In) Security: The Future of Literature and Language Studies. South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference.
  • Moderator. Radow 365 Days of Learning and Service panel discussion, “Addressing Housing Insecurity in our Community.”
  • Panelist. “Writing Myths that Irritate Us.” Red Clay Writers Conference.
  • Master of Ceremonies. The 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Awards. Georgia Writers Association.
  • Presenter. “Reflections on Building an Online Course.” Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference.

2022

  • Panel Chair. “SAMLA Poets.” SAMLA 94: Change. South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference.
  • Panelist. “Images of Resistance and Revolutionary Change: Brooks, Knight, and Lorde.” SAMLA 94: Change.
  • Tennessee Williams Scholar. Sewanee Writers’ Conference.

2021

  • Master of Ceremonies. The 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Awards. Georgia Writers Association.
  • Panel Secretary. “Social Poets.” SAMLA 93: Social Networks, Social Distances. South Atlantic Modern Language Association.

2020

  • Panel Chair. “Scandal! Native American Boarding Schools in American Fiction.” SAMLA 92: Scandal! Literature and Provocation: Breaking Rules and Making Texts. South Atlantic Modern Language Association.
  • Master of Ceremonies. The 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Awards. Georgia Writers Association.

2019

  • Panelist. “Graduate Students’ Perspectives on Community-Engaged Writing.” Conference on Community Writing.
  • Panelist. “Conversations Between Writing Centers.” Southeastern Writing Center Association.

2017

  • Panelist. “New Faculty Orientation.” Kennesaw State University.
  • Presentation. “Leadership Opportunities in the Writing Workshop.” Metro Atlanta Collegiate Leadership Summit. Kennesaw State University.
  • Poetry Reading. Symposium of Student Scholars. Kennesaw State University.

2016

  • Panelist. “Extracurricular Writing.” Southeastern Writing Center Association.

SELECTED READINGS
2025

  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies South (WGS South) Conference.

2024

  • Decatur Book Festival. Poetry Reading, Session 5.
  • “Three Emerging Writers.” East Tennessee State University.
  • 2024 Spotlight Poet: Solstice MFA Summer Residency. Reading and Q&A.
  • Sundress Academy for the Arts Reading Series.

2023

  • “An Evening of Poetry with Jenny Sadre-Orafai and Valerie A. Smith.” Georgia Center for the Book.
  • “Diverse Verses.” Cobb County Library Celebrates National Poetry Month.

2022

  • Scholar Readings. Sewanee Writers’ Conference.
  • Co-Host. “Unmute Your Mic.” Community Through Poetry: A Virtual Gathering for All KSU Students.

2021

  • “Social Poets.” SAMLA 93: Social Networks, Social Distances. South Atlantic Modern Language Association.

2020

  • “Scandalous Poets.” SAMLA 92: Scandal! Literature and Provocation: Breaking Rules and Making Texts. South Atlantic Modern Language Association.

2019

  • Graduate Student Poetry Reading. Georgia State University.
  • Graduate Student Poetry Reading. Decatur Book Festival.

2018

  • Graduate Student Poetry Reading. Georgia State University.
  • Poetry Capstone Reading. Kennesaw State University.
  • Poetry Reading. “Kennesaw State University Faculty and Graduate Student Readings.” Association of Writers and Writing Programs.

2017

  • Poetry Reading. Symposium of Student Scholars. Kennesaw State University.
  • Graduate Student Poetry Reading. Decatur Book Festival.

2016

  • Graduate Student Poetry Reading. Decatur Book Festival.

EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION HISTORY

  • Substitute Teacher: Kennesaw Charter Science & Math Academy 2014–2015
  • Undergraduate Studies in Creative Nonfiction & Poetry 2014–2015
  • Administrative Assistant: IGO Family Church 2014–2015
  • Technical Writing Certification 2013–2014
  • Site Lead /Chess Instructor: Kid Chess Afterschool Program 2008–2011
  • Writer/Copyeditor: Rolling Out Magazine and Rejoice Atlanta Magazine 2008–2011
  • Copyeditor: Primedia/HPC Publications, The Apartment Guide 2001–2004
  • Advertising Manager/Research Associate: Dorey Publishing 1999–2001
  • Copyeditor: Construction Market Data 1998–1999
    GUEST LECTURER
  • “Benefits of The Writing Workshop.” Dr. Goodsite, KSU English 3310. 2023
  • “Benefits of The Writing Workshop.” Dr. Krone, KSU English 3310. 2022
  • “Poetry Workshop: Writing and Revising.” Common Good Atlanta. Online. 2021
  • “Community-Engaged Writing.” GSU English Dept. Graduate Assist. Training. 2020
  • “Community-Engaged Writing.” KSU English Dept. Graduate Assist. Practicum. 2018
    AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
  • RCHSS Professional Development Award for Lecturers. USG T&L Conference 2024
  • RCHSS Professional Development Award. ETSU’s Three Emerging Writers 2024
  • Inaugural Spotlight Poet. Solstice MFA Program. Summer 2024 Residency 2024
  • RCHSS Professional Development Award for Lecturers. SOTL Conference 2023
  • Finalist for the Bellingham Review 2023 49th Parallel Award for Poetry 2023
  • Tennessee Williams Scholarship, Sewanee Writers’ Conference 2022
  • Graduate Student Travel Award, Georgia State University 2022
  • Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Georgia State University 2018–2021
  • Residency Fellowship, Hambidge Center for Creative Arts 2020
  • Graduate Student Travel Award, Georgia State University 2020
  • Graduate Student Travel Award, Georgia State University 2019
  • Graduate Student Travel Award, Kennesaw State University 2018
  • MA in Professional Writing Outstanding Scholar Award 2017
  • Graduate Research Assistantship, The Writing Center 2017
  • Best Graduate Oral Presentation Award, KSU Symposium of Student Scholars 2017
  • Graduate Research Assistantship, Kennesaw State University 2016
  • Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Kennesaw State University 2015–2018
  • Graduate Internship, Georgia Writers Association 2015
    COMMUNITY SERVICE
  • Member. Atlanta Writers Club 2022–Present
  • Member. Coalition for Community Writing 2021–Present
  • Member. South Atlantic Modern Language Association 2020–Present
  • Judge. Hambidge Poetry Residency Applications 2020–2021
  • Member. Georgia Writers Association 2018–Present
  • Member. Association of Writers and Writing Programs 2017–Present