2014 Dissertation on Queer Performance, DEI Role Sparks Debate Over Academic Standards

A 2014 doctoral dissertation from the University of Denver, titled "Celebration, Resistance, and Change: Queer Gender Performers of Color as Public Pedagogues," has drawn recent scrutiny for its academic content and the subsequent career path of its author. The thesis, penned by Krishna Pattisapu, features an unconventional opening narrative that describes a drag performance.

The controversial passage, highlighted in a recent social media post by Rhyen Staley, reads: "Tonight, I incarnate for the first time as a drag performer. My name is Oscar Mayer, and my trusty drag king partner, Jimmy Dean, I are 'The Sausage Boyz,' poised to offer a (hopefully) sidesplitting rendition of 'Dick in a Box.'" This excerpt has fueled discussions regarding the rigor and focus of contemporary PhD programs.

Further amplifying the debate, the tweet noted that the dissertation's author, Krishna Pattisapu, now serves as a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at a community college. Publicly available information confirms Krishna Pattisapu's academic background and her current role as the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Front Range Community College in Colorado. Her LinkedIn profile also lists her as an instructor of communication at the University of Denver.

The dissertation itself explores "queer gender performance and its pedagogical potential for queer communities," utilizing qualitative interviews and poetic transcription. It aims to expand academic understandings of "queer of color subjectivity" and address social inequalities within queer communities. The study builds a case for queer gender performance as a form of public pedagogy.

Critics argue that the nature of such academic work, particularly its narrative style and subject matter, reflects a decline in traditional academic standards, often linking it to broader concerns about the focus of DEI initiatives in higher education. Conversely, supporters contend that such research is vital for exploring marginalized identities and fostering social justice, pushing the boundaries of conventional scholarship. The discussion underscores ongoing tensions within academia regarding the balance between traditional scholarly rigor and the evolving landscape of interdisciplinary and social justice-oriented studies.