Christy Whittlesey

Expertise

Arts-based research; qualitative research methodology; improvement science; curriculum and instruction; inclusive school design; fine and performing arts leadership

Research Interests

Christy's research interests include arts-based qualitative inquiry, transgender and nonbinary student experience in educational settings, inclusive school design and improvement science as a framework for practitioner-led change. She is also interested in the preparation of practitioner-scholars and the mentoring practices that support equity-focused dissertation research.

Education

• Ph.D., Educational Research and Evaluation, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Outstanding Dissertation Award Recipient
• M.M.Ed., Music Education, Boston University, Boston, Mass.
• B.M., Professional Music, Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass.
  
  
  

Biosketch

Christy Whittlesey is an adjunct professor and dissertation mentor coordinator in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She co-created and teaches the doctoral qualitative research methodology course and teaches other courses in the Ed.D. program. In her role as dissertation mentor coordinator, she designs and facilitates training for dissertation mentors, develops program-wide resources for doctoral candidates, and leads ongoing professional development in support of the Ed.D. in Leadership in Schooling program.

Alongside her work at UMass Lowell, Whittlesey serves as K–12 Fine and Performing Arts coordinator for Chelmsford Public Schools, where she has led comprehensive arts programming for over 15 years. Under her leadership, Chelmsford has held the National Association of Music Merchant's (NAMM) Foundation's "Best Community for Music Education" designation continuously since 2013. She also serves as managing editor of the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal, supporting the professional learning of music educators across the Commonwealth.

Whittlesey is the author of two books on inclusive education and trans allyship, including the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Award-winning It's OK to Say "They:" Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Nonbinary Students (Dave Burgess Consulting, 2019). She holds a doctorate in Educational Research and Evaluation from UMass Lowell.

Selected Awards and Honors

• IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award (2020) — It's OK to Say "They": Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Nonbinary Students
• Outstanding Dissertation Award (2019) — University of Massachusetts Lowell

Selected Publications

• Whittlesey, C. (2021). The Beginner's Guide to Being a Trans Ally. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Whittlesey, C. (2019). It's OK to Say "They": Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Nonbinary Students. Dave Burgess Consulting. IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Winner.

Selected Presentations

• "Your Classroom, Your Story: Four Perspectives on Writing for the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal (MMEJ)" — Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference, Worcester, MA, 2026 (co-presenter)
• "Coloring Outside the Lines: Applications of Arts-Based Qualitative Research to Support Culturally Sustaining Practice in Schools" — New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO) Conference, 2025 (co-presented with EdD candidates)
• "Introduction to Qualitative Research: Embracing the Messy Magic" — UMass Lowell EdD Residency, 2025
• "Coloring Outside the Lines" — NERA Conference, 2024 (co-presented with EdD candidates)
• Featured CUEByte Speaker: "It's OK to Say 'They'" — MassCUE Conference, Gillette Stadium, 2022