Clint Whitten

Clint is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Virginia Tech whose research explores the intersections of rural education, underrepresented identities, and community activism. He recently completed a Ph.D. in the Foundations of Education within Virginia Tech's School of Education, focusing on the intersections of rurality, identity development, and community advocacy in education. His work explores how policy, visibility, and resources disparities influence rural educational experiences for youth and teachers. He is a former middle school English, creative writing, and theatre teacher with roots in farming communities in Southside Virginia. During his doctoral program, he was selected for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award and invited to join the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. Clint is also an active member of his community, co-founding Community Pride in Blacksburg, a group dedicated to organizing regional educational resources and creating spaces that celebrate and support underrepresented identities, specifically Queer and trans. Lastly, he is co-editor of the forthcoming Rural Education and Queer Identities: Rural and (Out)Rooted.