Dr. Dustin Evatt

Biography

Dr. Dustin Evatt serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice in Higher Education at Western Carolina University. He teaches undergraduate, masters, and doctoral courses in the Leadership Minor program, Higher Education Student Affairs (HESA) M.Ed. program, and Educational Leadership Ed.D. program. Dustin serves as Program Director for the Leadership Minor and Social Justice Minor and Chairs disquisition committees in the Ed.D. program.<br><br>Before joining the WCU faculty in 2022, Dustin worked as a scholar-practitioner in higher education for over twelve years in the areas of student leadership development, campus activities, career development, equity and inclusion, and young alumni engagement. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Leadership Studies, First-Year Seminar, and Student Affairs Administration at previous institutions. Originally from South Carolina, Dustin received his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Appalachian State University, a Master of Education degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Vermont, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Winthrop University.

Education

• EDD, Appalachian State University, Educational Leadership / Higher Education

Teaching Interests

My teaching philosophy centers around critical praxis in higher education and leadership education. I embrace a constructivist approach to learning and believe that knowledge and meaning are socially constructed through experiences and interactions with people and their environments. I view my work through a critical theoretical lens and embrace the concept of praxis (<b>critical reflection + action</b>) as a foundational element of education, teaching, and practice.<br><br>Dr. Evatt teaches the following courses:<br><br><b>Undergraduate:</b><br>- LEAD 244: Principles of Leadership<br>- LEAD 249: Diversity and Leadership<br>- LEAD 250: Leadership Lessons through Film<br>- LEAD 344: Advanced Leadership Practices<br><br><b>Masters:</b><br>- HESA 593: Emerging Issues in Student Affairs<br>- HESA 605: Introduction to Higher Education Student Affairs<br>- HESA 611: Organization, Administration, and Finance in Higher Education<br>- HESA 621: Theories of College Student Development<br>- HESA 683: HESA Internship<br><br><b>Doctoral:</b><br>- EDL 805: Academic Writing for Research<br>- EDL 824: Leading Institutional Improvement<br>- EDL 828: Human Resources and Finance in Higher Education<br>- EDL893: Race in Higher Education<br>- EDL893: Critical Perspectives of Leadership in Higher Education<br>- EDL 999: Disquisition Research and Writing

Research Interests

Dr. Evatt's research explores critical leadership and equity-mindedness in college administrators and students using critical whiteness and queer theories. He has presented over 30 sessions on topics related to equity and inclusion and student engagement at a variety of regional and national higher education professional conferences including NASPA, ACPA, NCORE, SACSA, and NACA. Dustin received the 2020 Dissertation of the Year Award from the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) for his qualitative research exploring the complexities of whiteness in higher education and was honored to be selected as a NASPA member of the 2023-2024 Emerging Faculty Leader Academy (1 of 7 selected nationally).