The School of Theatre and Dance proudly welcomes a new faculty member, Dr. Clarence McFerren. With a background in classroom teaching, district leadership and higher education administration experience, he brings a clear sense of purpose to his role.
With a family legacy of flexibility and civil rights leadership in Fayette County, Tennessee, Dr. McFerren’s track into education was shaped early by the value that was placed on learning despite the obstacles. He started his career in Washington, D.C. as a preschool teacher and has since taught all grade levels in several states. His transition into district-level administration and his later experience in higher education collectively inform his current work as a faculty member. Each step has strengthened his mission to uplift and serve others through education.
As a qualitative researcher, Dr. McFerren’s scholarship centers on amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals, particularly addressing those who may feel silenced in institutional scope. He maintains, “My work is grounded in the belief that education should center humanity, belonging, and voice, especially for those who have historically been unheard.”
His research interrogates pressing issues such as hostile environments, inequitable workloads, burn out, and teacher retention. He focuses his interest on how these challenges intersect with arts, education, and leadership to promote human-centered systems. This area of interest explains his warm personality.
His approach in the classroom is collaborative because he views learning as shared process, encouraging students to think critically, engage in intellectual risk, and meaningful dialogue. His aim is to encourage academic growth and confidence in students even if it challenges his own perspectives.
Dr. McFerren was drawn to the school not just by its academic strengths, but its people. This aligns with his research background on belonging and retention, which underscores the importance of discovering the best means to make individuals thrive. Hence, the school’s culture of collaboration creates the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to bring about student success and mutual development.
Apart from his work in the classroom, he is committed to building partnerships that
are mutually beneficial to the community. He emphasizes the importance of enlarging
the scope of opportunities that go beyond academic settings to prepare students for
life beyond university life.
Inspired by the film, Fame—its powerful portrayal of access, identity, and perseverance, Dr. McFerren, himself a male dancer, found its theme profound and accessible. If asked to distill his teaching philosophy into just one word, he offers: facilitative. “I don’t see teaching as delivering information, but as facilitating spaces where students can think critically, take risks, and grow into who they are becoming,” he emphasizes.
[And in true Southern fashion, Dr. McFerren prefers tea—often blending green, hibiscus, or peach—to coffee.]
We are excited to have him join our community, and we look forward to the impact he will make in the classroom and beyond.