CATHERINE L.

ADAMS
P.O. Box 302845, St. Thomas, USVI / 2044A Cambria Drive, Greenville, NC 27834
Phone: (413) 348-5803
cladams1908@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Ph.D.

Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

2010

M.A.

African-American Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

1999

B.A.

English, Honors College, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC

1990

AREAS OF SCHOLARLY INTEREST

Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Africana Literature, especially migration, nationalism, and
transnationalism narratives
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2016 present

Visiting Assistant Professor of English, University of the Virgin Islands

Courses: Composition I; Honors Composition

Fall 2015 Summer 2016

Assistant Professor of English and Chair of Humanities, Paine College

Courses: Readings and Research Senior Seminar in English (I and II); Black
Literature of the 20th Century; Early Black Literature, 1790-1900; The Modern
Novel; Literary Criticism; Literature of Black Protest Movements; and
Preparation for Excellence
Chair Duties: Leading department faculty and students in the execution of the
Colleges mission, vision, and core values; performing administrative
functions and serving as a liaison between faculty, students and the
Provost/VPAA.

Fall 2014-Spring 2015

Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator of English, Paine College

Courses: Black Literature of the 20 th Century; American Literature, 16081870; Early Black Literature, 1790-1900; The Modern Novel; Womens
Literature and Criticism; Literary Criticism; and Composition I

Spring 2013-Spring 2014

Assistant Professor of English and Chair of Humanities, Paine College

Courses: Readings and Research Senior Seminar in English (I and II;) Black
Literature of the 20th Century; and Early Black Literature, 1790-1900
Chair Duties: Led department faculty and students in the execution of the
Colleges mission, vision, and core values; performed administrative functions
and served as a liaison between faculty, students and the Dean of the School of
Arts and Sciences.

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE (contd)
Fall 2011-Fall 2012

Assistant Professor, Humanities, Paine College

Courses: Black Literature of the 20th Century; American Literature, 16081870; Early Black Literature, 1790-1900; The Modern Novel; and Composition
I and II

Fall 2009-Spring 2010

Instructor, Center for Academic Services, East Carolina University

Course: Student Development and Learning in Higher Education
Special sections: First-generation college students, academic probation
students

Spring 2005

Visiting Lecturer, Afro-American Studies, Smith College

Course: Twentieth Century Afro-American Literature (cross-listed in English)

Fall 2000-Fall 2005

Teaching Assistant/Instructor, Afro-American Studies, University of

Massachusetts-Amherst
Courses: History of the Civil Rights Movement, The Blues, Literature of the
Harlem Renaissance, Literature and Culture, Literature of Chinua Achebe

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Adams, Catherine L. Review of West of Harlem: African American Writers and the Borderlands. MELUS.
Under review.
Adams, Catherine L. A Black Man's Burden: Teaching the Roots of Frank Yerby's Protest. In progress.
Cummings, Lawanda and Catherine L. Adams. Building a Box to Put It in: An Examination of Black
Protest Literature, Social Movements, and Theoretical Considerations at Paine College. 2016 Faculty
Resource Network National Symposium, Atlanta, GA, November 2016. Publication in progress.
Adams, Catherine L. A Black Sooners Rush to Get the Acres: Black Migration, Settlement, and
Resistance in Jewell Parker Rhodess Magic City. Killens Review of Arts & Letters, Fall/Winter 2015
Adams, Catherine L.; Lewis, Alana; Lewis, Georgina; et. al. Yerby and Archives at PC, Conference on the
Harlem Renaissance, Paine College, November 2015
Adams, Catherine L.; Burnette, Teri; Cummings, Lawanda; et.al. Justice Beyond the Classroom: The Role
of Digital Media in Learning, Creating, and Acting on Social Issues, Mobilizing through the Media
Womens and Gender Studies Conference at Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, March 2015
Adams, Catherine L., Africanizing the Territory: The Contemporary Imagination of Black Frontier
Settlements in the Oklahoma Territory, Western Historical Association, Newport Beach, CA,
September 2014
Adams, Catherine L., Peer-Reviewer, MELUS, Volume 38, 2013
Adams, Catherine L., Locating Emma C. W. Gray: A Local Oral History Project at Paine College,
Conference on the Harlem Renaissance, Paine College, November 2013

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SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES (contd)
Adams, Catherine L., Midwives and Mavericks: Re-Examining Recognized and Marginalized Faces and
Spaces within Literary Garveyism during the Harlem Renaissance, Expanding the Harlem
Renaissances Relevance across the HBCU Curriculum, UNCF/Mellon Teaching and Learning Institute,
Paine College, November 2013
Adams, Catherine L., The Diaspora Unchained: Teaching Elements for Africana Diasporic Readership in a
Post-Django Moment, Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC) Southern
Regional Conference, September 2013
Adams, Catherine L., Caster Semenya as a Case Study: Understanding Questions of Racism, Sexism and
Gender Oppression for Women Competing in the Olympics, Gendered Perspectives: Recent
Scholarship on Culture and Social Justice, UNCF/Mellon Teaching and Learning Institute, Xavier
University of Louisiana, October 2012
Adams, Catherine L., Reclaiming a Scribal Tradition: Connecting the Literary Landscape of Georgia to the
Literary Tradition of Ancient Egypt, Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations
Southern Regional Conference (ASCAC), Augusta, GA, September 2012
Adams, Catherine L., A Novel Approach: A Few Thoughts On Teaching Hip Hop In Literature Courses At
Paine, Africana Wellness Colloquium on Hip Hop, Paine College, April 2012
Adams, Catherine L., Remembering the Territory, the All-Black Town Movement and TulsaThen and
Now, John Henrik Clarke Historical Society, Augusta, GA, April 2012
Adams, Catherine L., Remembering and Reclaiming Black Tulsa In Jewell Parker Rhodess Magic City,
College Language Association (CLA), Atlanta, GA, March 2012
Adams, Catherine L., Reading Novels to Remember Black Women on the Western Frontier Before and
After the Civil War, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH),
Richmond, VA, October 2011
Adams, Catherine L., Re-Imagining Sovereignty, Re-Defining Freedom in African American Novels, PanAfricanism Conference, Yale University, April 2006
Adams, Catherine L., Re-Imagining Sovereignty, Re-Defining Freedom in African American Novels, 23rd
Annual Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC) Conference, Newark, NJ,
March 2006
Adams, Catherine L., Let Us Go Forth and Possess the Land: Novelistic Black Nationalism in Martin
Delanys Blake, 21st Annual ASCAC Conference, Chicago, IL, March 2004
Adams, Catherine L., Restructuring History Using African Time/Space in African American Novels, 19th
Annual ASCAC Conference, Philadelphia, PA, March 2002
Adams, Catherine L., Black Nationalist Themes in African American Novels, ASALH Black Nationalism
Panel, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, November 2001
Adams, Catherine L., Criminal Disenfranchisement and Civil Death in African American Communities,
National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) Conference, Charlotte, NC, March 2001
Adams, Catherine L., Blake, Iola Leroy, Imperium in Imperio: Expressions of Nationalism in Three
Nineteenth Century African American Novels, 17th Annual ASCAC Conference, London, England, July
2000
Adams, Catherine L., Delany, Harper and Griggs: Three Nineteenth Century Novelists, ASCAC MidAtlantic Regional Conference, Philadelphia, PA, December 1999

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SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES (contd)
Adams, Catherine L., The Child of Nationalism Yet Unborn: A Critique of Contemporary Literary
Production in Black Studies, Graduate Student Conference, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA,
April 1998
Adams, Catherine L., Contemporary Black Women Writers in Britain, Minority Summer Research
Program, University of California, Los Angeles, August 1989

RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED

Principal Investigator, Faculty Student Research Program Focus on Yerby, $33,631 awarded from the
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church awarded in
2015-2016
Principal Investigator, Faculty Student Research Program Focus on Yerby, $33,631 awarded from the
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church awarded in
2014-2015

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Summer Scholar-in-Residence, NYU Faculty Resource Network, New York, NY, June 2016
Participant, 15th Annual Workshops for Department and Division Chairs, Leading from the Middle,
Council of Independent Colleges, Portland, ME, May 2016
Participant, NYU Faculty Resource Network Summer Seminar, Women and the Civil Rights Movement,
New York, NY, July 2015
Paine College Team Leader, UNCF/Mellon Teaching & Learning Institute, Mapping the Future by Mining
the Past: Using HBCU Repositories to Create Digital Humanities Projects, Morehouse College, July 2014
Participant, NYU Faculty Resource Network Summer Seminar, Black Irish Writing: The Irish Renaissance
and the Harlem Renaissance, New York, NY, July 2014
Participant, 13th Annual Workshops for Department and Division Chairs, The Chair as a Strategic
Partner, Council of Independent Colleges, Spokane, WA, June 2014
Participant, UNCF/Mellon International Faculty Seminar, Race, Rights, Rebellion, El Salvador, Brazil, July
2012
Participant, NYU Faculty Resource Network, Women of the Atlantic, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 2012

HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE

Program Specialist, Office of Institutional Diversity (Chancellors Division), East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC, Spring 2007- Fall 2009
I designed and delivered various diversity-related presentations and workshops to orientation groups,
students, faculty, and staff; developed programming with attention to growing cultural diversity and interest
in social justice issues on campus and in surrounding communities; regularly interfaced with
underrepresented community leaders and organizations in accordance with the University's diversity
initiatives; assisted with development of campus-wide Diversity Plan based on climate assessments.

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HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE (contd)
College Administrator, Area Colleges and Universities, Western, MA, Fall 2002-Spring 2007
Multicultural Affairs I served as Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs at Mount Holyoke College and Interim
Associate Dean of Multicultural Affairs at Smith College. Managed cultural houses, supervised student
workers, directed pre-orientation programs, advised multicultural student groups, delivered training for
student leaders, and compiled annual reports. In addition, as Interim Associate Dean, supervised support
staff, oversaw programming and operations budget, provided academic advising for students of color, and
served on committees related to multicultural education, recruitment and retention.
Graduate School I served as Coordinator at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for the Summer
Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). With funding from the National Science Foundation, SPUR
targeted underrepresented students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math throughout the
country for a summer residential research and mentoring experience at the University. Supervised graduate
students, coordinated workshops and events, including final research presentations.
Afro-American Studies Department I served as Co-Administrator at the University of MassachusettsAmherst for the Scholars of the 21st Century Mentoring Program. With funding from Nellie Mae, the Scholars
Program targeted undergraduate students majoring in Afro-American Studies for a research and mentoring
experience during the academic year. Coordinated speakers, events, and final research presentations.
Residential Life I served as Residence Hall Coordinator at Smith College. Managed one of the campuses
larger housing complexes; supervised, trained, supported, and evaluated student staff; and managed
programming budget.
Financial Aid Administrator, The Chubb Institute, Springfield, PA, Fall 1998-Spring 1999
I interviewed and counseled students for federal grant and loan awards; managed student files for
verification; and researched and interpreted trends in government funding for higher education.
ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Committee Member, CLASS Assessment Committee, University of the Virgin Islands, Fall 2016
Committee Member, CLASS Curriculum Committee, University of the Virgin Islands, Fall 2016
Chair, Yerby Committee, Augusta Literary Festival, Summer 2016
Presenter, 40 Years of the Faculty Resource Network, Opening Conference, Faculty Professional
Development, Paine College, Spring 2016
Committee Member, Paine College Nominations Committee, 2015-2016
Committee Member and Presenter, Augustas Literary History, Georgia Literary Festival, 2015
Chair, Paine College Yerby Committee, Spring 2015-Summer 2016
Sophomore Proficiency English Exam (SPEE) Director, Humanities Department, Paine College, Fall 2014
Fall 2015
Committee Member, Conference on the Black Experience, Paine College, 2014 and 2015
Committee Member, Agenda Committee, Paine College, 2014-2015
Chair, Writers Conference, Paine College, Spring 2014
Moderator, Opening Conference, Faculty Professional Development, Paine College, January 2014
Faculty Advisor, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Paine College, 2013-2016
Faculty Co-Chair, Conference on the Harlem Renaissance, Paine College, 2013-2016

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ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE (contd)
Liaison Officer, NYU Faculty Resource Network, Paine College - Member School, Fall 2013-Summer 2016;
Symposium Committee Member, NYU Faculty Resource Network, Summer 2014-Summer 2016
Facilitator, UNCF/Mellon Teaching and Learning Institute, Paine College, November 2013
Faculty Member, Paine College Disciplinary Committee, 2013
Visiting Speaker, Preparation for College Course, Curtis Baptist Academy, October 2013
Chair, SAS Strategic Review Committee, Paine College, 2012-2013
Chair, Research Guidelines Committee for English, Paine College, 2012-2013
Faculty Advisor, Student Government Association, Paine College, 2012-2013
Faculty Advisor, English Club, Paine College, 2012-2016
Member, Paine College Vision Committee, 2012-2013
Member, Conference on the Harlem Renaissance Committee, Paine College, 2011-2013
Member, Curriculum Review and Revision Committee, Paine College, 2011-2012
Member, Agenda Committee, Paine College, 2011-2012
Member, Women Studies Executive Board, East Carolina University, Fall 2008-Spring 2010
Ex-Officio for Diversity, University Staff Senate, East Carolina University, Spring 2008-Fall 2009
Member, Chancellors Diversity Council and Chancellors Community Advisory Council, East Carolina
University, 2007-2009
Keynote Speaker, New Leadership Charter High School Graduation, Springfield, Massachusetts, June 2006
Peer-Reviewer, Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism Journal, Spring 2005
Grant Writer, Charlotte Hawkins Brown High School Debate Society, Springfield, MA, $5000 from
MassMutual Financial Group awarded in 2005
Member, Otelia Cromwell Day Committee, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, Fall 2003 and Fall
2004
Volunteer, Read-a-Loud Program, Rebecca Johnson Elementary School, Springfield, Massachusetts, April
2004
Graduate Student Participant, Academic Quality Assessment and Development Department Review,
W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, April 2004
Workshop Leader and Chaperone, Youth Cultural Education Organization's Black College Tour,
Springfield, Massachusetts, Spring 2003 Spring 2004
Co-Captain, "Team AKA", American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Springfield, Massachusetts, May 20022003
Keynote Speaker, Elverson Middle School Graduation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 2002
Undergraduate Advisor, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Springfield, Massachusetts, March
2001-December 2004
Chair, Graduate Student Conference, Association for the Study of African-American Life and History,
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Branch, February 2001
Mentor, Teen Mentoring Program, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Fall 1998-Spring 1999
Tutor, Johnson C. Smith University Honors College Community Service, Charlotte, North Carolina, Fall
1988-Spring 1990

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Life Member, College Language Association, November 2016-present

Life Member, Association of Black Women Historians, October 2016-present

Life Member, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), April 1998present; Chartering Member and President, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Branch, 2002-2004;
2nd Vice-President, ASALH, Philadelphia Branch, 1998-1999

Member, Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC), 1997-2006, 2011-present;
2nd Vice President, Southern Region, 2014-present

Member, Modern Language Association (MLA), 2010-present

Member, National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), 2001-2002

AWARDS

Augusta Visitors Bureau Champion, 2014, 2015, 2016

Vulcan Materials Teaching Excellence Awardee, Paine College, Spring 2013