Kristi Franks is a proud alumna of Texas Tech University who first graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She then returned in 2020 and completed a Master of Arts in Dance Studies in 2022. An award-winning professor of dance at Tyler Junior College, Franks has become adept at juggling teaching, dance shows, lectures, travel, and family. Considering her busy schedule, we thought a Q&A would be the best way to catch up.
TCK: I know that your TTU graduate matriculation was largely online. What was that experience like? Were there benefits? Detriments?
Franks: Yes, grad school was completely online for us. I didn't meet one of my professors until after I graduated. At first, I was pretty disappointed because I was really looking forward to dancing in the studio again at Tech and working closely with my professors and peers. However, there were some obvious benefits, like saving the cost of travel and board for 2 summers (not to mention childcare, since I would be juggling arrangements for 4 kids during each class).
We had a few synchronous online classes that were nice. Speaking to one another in real time was a relief during that time, and I was able to receive live feedback on my movement in at least one of the classes which is imperative in our field.
TCK: What was your journey afterward?
Franks: When I started graduate school, I was already working in my desired field, as a college professor at Tyler Junior College. I wanted to attend for the experience and learning more so than any sort of promotion or career goal. So, after I graduated, nothing really changed with my career path, but I felt confident that I had gained so much to use within my own classes and teachings.
TCK: How do you use what you learned at TTU in your career?
Franks: I was immediately able to apply some of our coursework to my own career - my class in Pedagogy allowed me to completely revamp the syllabus and course plan for the Jazz Dance class I teach every semester. I also use video clips that we watched and as much of the reading and scholarship as is appropriate for undergraduate study.
Additionally, my professors at Tech encouraged me to apply for an award with the Journal of Dance Education, which I later received. An amended version of my thesis was also published in a volume of the journal, which is a huge honor. Without the help of my professors, like Dr. Ali Duffy, I would have never even dreamed of writing for a peer reviewed journal.
TCK: What are you doing presently?
Franks: I am currently a professor of dance at Tyler Junior College. I teach full time and also teach within our Academy of Dance (ages 3-18), so I'm living the dream of a dance teacher - working in the studios, in lecture rooms and onstage throughout the year.
TCK: Are there any odd, unique, or interesting places your career has taken you?
Franks: I wouldn't say it's incredibly unique, but I have since traveled to state and national conventions presenting my research that was conducted in my time at Tech graduate school. If Atlanta and Houston count as interesting, then that's as far as I've been, haha.
TCK: What goals do you have for the future?
Franks: I want to continue my research. I have done a few preliminary sketches of what that might look like and how to move forward because it's definitely something I'm passionate about. The renowned dance scholar, Doug Risner, after whom the award I won was named, even wrote to me encouraging me to look into writing a book over my topic, which was very flattering (and quite daunting). So, I think continuing to write would be my biggest goal.
TCK: What is your relationship with TTU now?
Franks: I haven't been back since graduation, but I sure love Texas Tech! My parents met there. My husband also graduated from there (with 5 different degrees!) and our family has some little bricks and benches here and there, so it will always be a huge part of my heart. We plan to bring the kids back for a game or two for personal visits, and I'm excited to say I finally have one of my own alumni there as a dance major at Tech.
TCK: Have you worked with any other TTU grads?
Franks: I currently work with several TTU alumni that are part of our TJC Theatre program - Dr. David Crawford, Jacob Davis, and Ethan Beam. Additionally, some of our favorite stage managers (whom we hire and bring in for shows) are also Tech grads. We always have our guns up over here in Tyler!
TCK: What advice would you share with current TTU students?
Franks: I would say to find the thing that you feel like you could do forever while you're there - for me, it was teaching. I fell in love with it while I was in school and immediately started teaching when I graduated. But whatever your path, try to start mapping it out so you can get as much applicable information out of your coursework as possible. I was able to really lean in to every bit of information I learned about education and pedagogy while I was there because I knew I would be an educator.
TCK: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Franks: I love where the Texas Tech Dance Department is today! It has grown so much from the tiny department it was in the early 2000s and there are some incredible professors with so much to offer. I'm very proud to say I'm a Red Raider!
Fingers crossed for Kristi Franks' new book coming soon!
Photo by Southern Gypsy Photography