As part of the transition to Digication, Portfolio is going away! Portfolio will be fully decommissioned on July 1, 2024. As of July 1, 2023, there will be a new content freeze in Portfolio. You will not be able to add new pieces of content to your personal or organizational Portfolio. Existing content is still editable. Please continue to migrate your existing content from Portfolio to Digication. For more information about Digication, click here. For a discussion of options for transitioning your content on Portfolio, click here. To learn more about using Digication in your courses, click here.
  • Career Highlights

  • Web Site: http://www.du.edu/education

    I am Professor of Research Methods and Statistics in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver (DU) and Director of Community Engagement & Outreach for the Center for Rural School Health & Education (CRSHE).

    I have over 15 years teaching experience in K-12 schools in London, Chicago, and Denver.  I obtained my Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994. I teach graduate classes in qualitative research methods and community-based research.  I have served as committee member of over 100 dissertations and theses (20 as chair, 10 as co-chair, and over 70 as committee member). 

    I have been conducting research with schools and community-based organizations for over 20 years.  My research and teaching interests include rural school health and physical activity environments, physical activity and youth development, university/community partnerships, and community-based research.  Using fieldwork and applied research methods, my writing focuses on the social consequences of this work, and draws on the belief that the diverse talents of academics, students, educators, and community members can produce excellent research that will strengthen the community as a whole and enhance the relevance of the academy in addressing real world problems.

    I have written over 30 articles and book chapters, and co-authored two books: Youth Development and Physical Activity: Linking Universities with Communities (Human Kinetics, 2000) and Community-Based Research and Higher Education: Principles and Practices (Jossey-Bass, 2003). I have supervised over two-dozen community-based research projects with students and faculty colleagues and community partners since 1999.   

    My current research involves rural school-based intervention studies related to physical activity and healthy eating among K-12 students in the San Luis Valley and southeast Colorado.  My co-authored grants to build healthy school environments and policies have been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Health Foundation.

  • Books

  • Strand, K., Marullo, S., Cutforth, N., Stoecker, R., & Donahue, P. (2003) Community-based research: Principles and practices for higher education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Hellison, D., & Cutforth, N. (Eds.). (2000). Youth development and physical activity: Linking universities and communities. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

  • Teaching

  • Teaching Philosophy

    I teach graduate classes in qualitative research methods and community-based research.  I strive to keep my courses current, interactive, reflective, and challenging, and my teaching evaluations and teaching awards reflect this effort.  I have a reputation as a professor who expects high quality work from students.  I am sought out as a dissertation and coursework advisor and students know that I am committed to their learning and development as researchers and writers.  My teaching style is open and warm.  My classes are organized, intellectually stimulating, and informal.  I encourage student participation and strive to make learning a pleasant and engaging experience for my students.  My class syllabi are comprehensive with clear and challenging assignments.  I use technology such as Canvas to complement my classroom instruction.

    When appropriate in my classes, I provide productive civic engagement and civic learning opportunities for students through partnerships with schools, non-profits, and community-based organizations.  These learning opportunities promote students’ awareness of social inequalities, commitment to social justice, and sense of empowerment to create social change.  

    I reflect deeply on my teaching and strive to continuously make improvements to enhance my students' learning.  Often their comments are quite rich with observations and insights which help me to refine my courses and teaching practices to provide them with better learning experiences. 

  • Courses

  • I teach a three course sequence in qualitative research and also community-based research.  Click on the links below for the syllabi.

  • Introduction to Qualitative Research Winter 2015

  • Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis Winter 2023

  • Advanced Qualitative Research Spring 2023.doc

  • Community-Based Research Fall 2022.doc

  • Media and Invited Lectures

  • Burack Distinguished Lecture, University of Vermont

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9cgvVC9gX0&t=1136s

     

     

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Cutforth CV

  • Personal Information

  • Office Hours:

    Tuesdays 12-1pm, 3-4pm, and by appointment.

    Research Interests:

    School health and physical activity environments, rural education, physical education, university-community partnerships, the scholarship of engagement, community-based research, and youth development and physical activity.

    Teaching Interests:

    Qualitative research, community-based research.

    Hobbies:

    Running, swimming, biking, reading, microbeers, cooking.

    Home Town:

    Maidstone, Kent, England. 

    Favorite Sports:

    Cricket, Soccer, Rugby. 

    Favorite Food:

    Fish and Chips, Indian Food, Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. 

    Favorite Music:

    Classical:

    Beethoven (6th Symphony), Faure (Requim), Brahms (4th Symphony), Vidor (Toccata), Mascagni (Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo), Elgar (The Angel's Farewell -- sung by Janet Baker)

    Pop/Rock

    Coldplay (Viva La Vida), Joy Division (Love Will Tear Us Apart), Cure (Friday I'm In Love), The Smiths (Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now), Louis Armstrong (What a Wonderful World), Genesis (Follow You Follow Me), Gilbert O'Sullivan (Alone Again Naturally), Clifford T. Ward (Gaye), OMD (Souvenir), Petula Clark (Downtown), Seekers (Georgie Girl), Stranglers (No More Heroes), Labi Siffre (Something Inside So Strong)

    Favorite Musician:

    My father (David Cutforth) who was a composer.

  • Research

  • Research Agenda

    My current research involves rural school-based intervention studies related to physical activity and healthy eating among K-12 students in the San Luis Valley and southeast Colorado.  My co-authored grants to build healthy school environments and policies have been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Health Foundation.

  • Publications

  • Valuable Information for Students and Faculty

This portfolio last updated: 22-May-2023 11:50 AM