Portia Marie York

Portia Marie York, PhD

Charlotte, NC 28278

portiayork@gmail.com

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Curriculum Vitae

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FIBER ARTIST & PROFESSOR

Skilled creative artist and educator with diverse interdisciplinary experience in developing and delivering curriculum, instruction, and unique workshops. Proven success in working with colleges, schools, galleries, youth centered organizations, and non-profits. Secondary educational experience in international settings. Strong communication skills and ability to build partnerships with key stakeholders and community groups. 

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Core competencies include:

•   Teaching & Exhibiting Fiber Artist (in person, online, hybrid)

•   Experience in teaching fiber arts and curriculum and instruction

•   Program Development & Implementation

•   Secondary/University Education

•   Research & Development

•   Experienced Administrator

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Teaching Experience

Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC

 FIN 188: Fibers 1, 2023, 2024

Professor of Fiber Arts

 

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC

ARTF 2151: Fibers 1, 2021, 2022, 2023

Professor of Fiber Arts

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EDCI 8186: Globalization, Urbanization, and Urban Schools, Fall 2019

Teaching Assistant/Co-instructor with Dr. Greg Wiggan

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EDCI 8312: Urban Schooling, Curriculum, and Pedagogy, Spring 2018

Invited Co-Instructor with Dr. Bettie Ray Butler

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EDCI 8180: Critical Issues and Perspectives in Education, Fall 2017

Teaching Assistant/Co-Instructor with Dr. Chance Lewis

 

Mecklenburg Health Department, Teen Health Connection, Charlotte, NC

Instructor, Basic Crochet Techniques with African American Teenaged Girls, 2013

 

STARS Alliance/University of North Carolina, Charlotte in Milot, Tovar, and Tremese, Haiti 

Community Development through English and Computer Literacy, 2012

Teaching Assistant/Consultant with Haitian School Administrators and Teachers

 

Trinity Episcopal School Wildcat Summer Camp, Charlotte, NC

Instructor, Basic Crochet Lessons with Middle School Students, 2011

 

Associacion Nuestros Ahijados de Guatemala

Basic Classroom and English Language Instruction of 4th Grade Guatemalan Students, Antigua, Guatemala, 2010

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Additional Professional Experience

YORK CREATIVE EDUCATION GROUP, CHARLOTTE, NC

CEO &  Creative Educator, 2020 – Present 

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THE JOHN CROSLAND SCHOOL, Charlotte, NC

Director of Advancement, 2017 – 2022 

Director of Enrollment Management, 2007 – 2017  

 

Art Exhibits 

Gaston County Museum, Niche Knits: The Interlooped History of Hosiery Textiles and Fashion (featured artist), Dallas, NC, 2023-2025

Gaston Country Museum, You Are …,(solo show), Dallas, NC (upcoming 3 month solo exhibit 2024)

The Arts Factory at Johnson C. Smith University, QC Family, Tree My Momma Told Me group show, Charlotte, NC, 2023

The Arts Factory at Johnson C. Smith University, QC Family Tree Unconventional group show, Charlotte, NC, 2023

Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Gaston College, Insatiable Fibers solo exhibit, Dallas, NC, 2023

State of South Carolina, South Carolina State Museum (10 months) Traveling Exhibits Program, SC, 2017, 2022

City of North Charleston, Annual African American Fiber Artist Exhibit, Charleston, SC, 2016, 2017, 2022

Carolina Breast Friends Pink Boots Ball Auction, Charlotte, NC, 2014, 2015

Dalton Gallery, Clinton College, Bras of Beauty solo exhibit, Clinton, SC, 2014

Trinity Episcopal School Art Show, Charlotte, NC, 2013

Coastal Carolina Artists and Crafters Guild, Bras for a Cause Showcase, Jacksonville, NC, 2013

The John Crosland School Art Show, Charlotte, NC, 2012, 2013, 2014 

 Channel 9 TV News gallery exhibit with Artist de’Angelo Dia, Charlotte, NC, 2012, 2013

 Women Centered Art Small Works Show, Charlotte, NC, 2011

Women Centered Art Simpatico Show, Charlotte, NC, 2011

Project Art Aid & American Cancer Society Auction, Charlotte, NC, 2011

Mint Hill Arts Juried Show, Mint Hill, NC, 2010, 2012

Providence Gallery Holiday Works show, Charlotte, NC, 2010

Art House Co-op Self Portrait Project, Atlanta, GA, 2010

Art House Co-op Fiction Project, permanent collection in The Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY,                    2010

Dore Academy Art Auction, Charlotte, NC, 2009, 2010, 2011

 

Publications

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Refereed 

Journal Articles

York, P.M., Zhang, S., Yang. M. & Muthukumar, V, (2022). Crochet: Engaging secondary school girls in art for STEAM’s sake. Science Education International.

Lee, S., York, P. M., Williams III, J., Richardson, S., Williams, B. K., Davis, A., & Lewis, C. W. (2020). Teachers’ psychological distress in North Carolina: An analysis of urban versus non-urban school. districts. Urban Education.

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Books

York, P.M. (2023). The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Black Girls in Middle School. Rowman & Littlefield.

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Book Chapters

York, P.M., Wiggan, G. (2020). Promoting student achievement: Arts integration in urban schools in the U.S. and Canada. In T. Heafner, L. Handler & T.  Rock (Eds.), The divide within: Intersections of realities, facts, theories, and practices (pp. 207-221). - a volume in the social science education consortium book series. Information Age Publishing.

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Richardson, S., Lewis, C. W., Jones-Fosu, S., York, P.M., Dervin, A., Davis, A., Hunt, B., Johnson, J., & Gadd, S. (2019).  The unleashed educator: A Black woman’s journey to research in STEAM. In S. Richardson & C. W. Lewis (Eds.), Conquering academia: Experiences of diverse female PhD students (pp. 19-35). Information Age Publishing.

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Book Reviews

York, P. M. (2020). Review of Evaluation essentials: From A to Z. Evaluation and Program Planning.

York, P. M., Keller, B., & Butler, B. R., (2019). Review of Talking black and white: An intercultural exploration of twenty-first century racism, prejudice, and perception. Urban Education.

 

Presentations 

York, P. M., & York, B. W. (2023, April). #CryptoCrochet: A Tactile Introduction to Mathematics and Computing. Presented at the Department of Computing and Informatics. University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.

York, P. M., & York, B. W. (2023, March). #CryptoCrochet: A Tactile Introduction to Mathematics and Computing. Presented at the Learning Institute for Visionary Epistemologies in STEM Fields & Interdisciplinary Studies. University of California Santa Bara, Santa Barbara, CA.

York, P. M., (2023, February). You Too Can Be a Fiber Professor CEO Artist. Presented at the 2023 Symposium. North Cross School. Roanoke, VA.

York, P. M., (2022, April). Speak Out and Speak Up: Positive Impacts of Drama Art on Literacies of Black Girls. Paper presented at the 2022 American Educational Research Association Conference. San Diego, CA.

York, P. M., & Wiggan, G., (2019, July). Promoting Student Achievement: Arts Integration in Urban Schools in the United States and Canada. Paper presented at the 2019 Social Science Education Consortium Conference. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.

Pass, M., York, P. M., (2019, March). Using Arts Integration to Increase Interest in Science Among African American Students in an Alternative School Setting. STEAM Poster Presentation presented at the 2019 NCARE Annual Meeting and Conference, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.      

Robinson, J., Pugalenthi, P., York, P.M., Pass, M. (2018, November). Teacher Preparedness in Biotechnology. STEM Poster Presentation. Poster presented at the 2018 International Conference on Urban Education (ICUE). Nassau, Bahamas.

York, P. M. (2018, August).  Integrating Arts into STEM for Black Students: Culture, Engagement, and Motivation (accepted). Western New York (WNY) STEAM Conference, Deamen College, Amhert, NY.

York, P. M. (2017, June).  Setting High Expectations/Effective Instruction. Presented at Freedom Schools Servant Leader Intern training, Charlotte, NC.

York, P. M., Pass, M. (2017, March). Weaving Biological Cells for Academic Success. STEAM Poster Presentation.  Presented at the 17th Annual Graduate Research Symposium, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC. 

York, P. M. (2017, June). Weaving Biological Cells to Teach Community (accepted). Lily Conferences – Evidenced Based Teaching, Bethesda MD.

York, P. M. (2017, August) Weaving Biological Cells to Teach Community. Paper presented at Lily Conferences – Evidenced Based Teaching, Ashville, NC. 

York, P.M., Xian, L., York, B. W. (2007, December). Creating a Corps of Urban Natural Scientists through Informal Learning Activities. Presented at Juxtopia Urban Learning Technology Conference, Baltimore, MD.

 

Workshops Facilitated

 

Crochet in STEM at Robotics STEM Camp for Girls. University of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV. (May 2023).

 

Learn to Crochet and Its Benefits, Communities in Schools at Shamrock Garden Elementary School,

Charlotte, NC (May 2023).

 

Imbedding Crochet in Robotics STEM Camp for Girls. University of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV. (June 2022).

 

Invited Guest Lectures

Creativity within fiber arts. Lecture for middle school students at Trinity Episcopal School, Charlotte, NC. (2023, March).

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Creativity within fiber arts. Lecture for middle school girls at Trinity Episcopal School, Charlotte, NC. (2020, February).

 

Grant writing with purpose. Lecture for EDCI 8312 Urban Schooling, Curriculum, and Pedagogy, University of North Carolina, Charlotte. (2018, August).

 

Engaging in your grad community. Center for Graduate Life, New Graduate Student Orientation. University of North Carolina, Charlotte. (2017, August).

 

Expectations and advice for 1st year doctoral students. EDCI-8660. University of North Carolina, Charlotte. (2017, July).  

 

What philanthropy means to me. Trinity Episcopal School Light the Fire event, Charlotte, NC. (2013, October).

 

The Haiti learning experience. Charlotte for Haiti Rotary Club, Charlotte, NC. (2012, April).

 

The craft of crochet art talk. Lecture for middle school students, Dore Academy, Charlotte, NC. (2011, September).

 

The craft of crochet art talk. Lecture for middle school students, Trinity Episcopal School, Charlotte, NC. (2010, October).

 

Beyond college. Clark University homecoming event for multicultural students, Worcester, MA. (2004, May).

 

Community Engagement

Crochet Circle, North Cross School, 2023

 

Book Discussion, The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Middle School Black Girls in Middle School, Black Girls Affinity Group, North Cross School, 2023

 

Crochet Circle, Gaston College, 2023

 

Honors & Awards

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Doctoral Fellow, Urban Education Collaborative. University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, 2017- 2019

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York, P.M., & Pass, M. (2017).  2nd place in Humanities, Education & Arts category. “Weaving Biological Cells for Academic Success,” STEAM Poster Presentation. 17th Annual Graduate Research Symposium.

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York, P.M., & Pass, M. (2016). Valoria B. Burch Award for Curriculum and Innovation in Alternative Education. University of North Carolina Urban Education Collaborative Student Discipline Joint Task Force (SDJTF) and the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education.

Grants

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York, P. M. (2023). Beyond Open Small Business Grant Program Award. Foundations for the Carolinas. (Funded)

Bott, V., Rojeski, H., York, P. M. (2019). Sensory Lab for Students with Learning Differences at The John Crosland School. Longleaf Foundation ($16,000). Role: Researcher. (Funded)

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Bott, V., York, P. M., Rojeski, H. (2018). Makerspace and Outdoor Classroom (STEAM Education) for Students with Learning Differences at The John Crosland School. Braswell Foundation ($40,500). Role Co-Principal Investigator. (Funded)

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York, P.M., Pass, M. (2016). The Valoria B. Burch Grant for Curriculum Innovation in Alternative Education, University of North Carolina Charlotte Urban Education Collaborative Student Discipline Joint Task Force (SDJTF), ($500). Role: Co-Principal Investigator. (Funded)

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Fundraising

Annual Fundraising Gala. ($227,000).  The John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC. Role: Project Director. (2020).  

40th Anniversary Fundraising Gala ($210,000). The John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC. Role: Project Director.(2019).

Annual Fund Campaign ($101,000). The John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC. Role: Program Director. (2019).

Annual Fund Campaign ($122,939). The John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC. Role: Program Director. (2018).

 

Education and Credentials

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction – University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Master of Management in Business Management – Cambridge College

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – Clark University

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Certifications

Master of Advanced Stitches and Techniques, Crochet Guild of America, 2015

A+, CompTIA, 2000

Trainer of Trainers, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., 1998

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