Applying Transdisciplinarity: Smith Teaches with CGU Philosophy

At Claremont Graduate University, transdisciplinarity isn’t just an academic principle — it’s a practice that prepares students to connect ideas across fields and audiences. For Audrey Smith, a master’s student in English, that approach has shaped how she teaches and thinks about the purpose of writing. 

Smith’s studies focus on Industrial Revolution–era English literature with a concentration in museum studies, which has allowed her to connect classroom learning with public-facing scholarship. Through that combination, she learned how literature can intersect with other disciplines and institutions. 

That same perspective now informs her teaching at California Baptist University, where she has returned to the classrooms she once sat in as an undergraduate. While building her academic résumé at CGU, Smith worked as a writing tutor, an experience that helped her translate academic theory into practical instruction.  

Having started in the medical field before shifting to English, Smith understands how different the required skills can feel for STEM students in a humanities course. It has informed her approach at Cal Baptist, where many in her class come from business or medical programs. 

“I try to be very practical and say, ‘The goal of this class is to save you a lot of time, drudgery, and stress.’ That approach appeals to any student,” Smith said. 

By meeting them where they are, she helps translate analytical reading and writing into tools they can use beyond the classroom. This is a reflection of CGU’s commitment to bridging disciplines through real-world application. 

Smith credits her CGU professors for modeling that balance of scholarship and accessibility. From courses in early English literature to American short stories, she observed faculty who encouraged open dialogue and collaboration — qualities she aims to bring into her own classroom. 

Even in a competitive academic job market, Smith feels ready. “I’ve always worked my way through school, and after my first year at CGU, I felt ready to start applying for academic jobs in the area.”