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Faculty Spotlight: Professor Donald McNutt
Dr. Donald McNutt is an associate professor and chair for the English and Communication Department. Dr. McNutt teaches a variety of courses here on campus, ranging from entry 100-level classes all the way up to mastery 400 level courses as well. Inside of the classroom, Dr. McNutt strives to get his students to cultivate not just the projects and assignments at hand, but also their own personal skills and identities as writers. He also tries his best to instill a sense of joy in his students regarding their own writings. These are just Dr. McNutt’s aspirations and initiatives inside of the classroom. Outside of his classes, Dr. McNutt has taken on even more responsibilities that showcase his gumption to provide students with all of the opportunity and knowledge he can give while also pursuing his own personal interests and skills.
At the center of Dr. McNutt’s extracurricular initiatives is the literary magazine he’s been editing for 39 issues, Blueline: A Literary Magazine Dedicated to the Spirit of the Adirondacks.With Blueline, Dr. McNutt works with the Center for Applied Learning to create internships for multiple different majors that help bring each episode of Blueline to life. Whether it be a student doing something related to public relations or even a history major doing some work on the historical significance of a subject that is mentioned in Blueline, Dr. McNutt has created a mutually beneficial relationship between the magazine and students of many majors outside of just English majors. This is admirable, as Dr. McNutt shows a dedication to providing opportunities to learn and grow for as many students he can, while also improving something he has really taken pride in and put a lot of work into.
Blueline’semphasis is on the literature from and about the Adirondacks. The Adirondacks are actually a large reason that Dr. McNutt ended up here at SUNY Potsdam. Before landing here in the North Country, Dr. McNutt has studied and taught in a range of different areas like Tucson, Arizona, East Lansing, Michigan, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After setting up shop in those areas, something caused Dr. McNutt to make another move. Upon getting up North to Potsdam, Dr. McNutt fell in love with Adirondacks and the region. His passion for activism was also a large factor in his staying in he region. Dr. McNutt’s passion for the region has allowed him to thrive in his duties as a professor and as editor for Blueline.
Throughout the entire conversation with Dr. McNutt, he gave a massive amount of different types of advice for students. Dr. McNutt within the classroom put a large emphasis on learning to think and write critically. The ability to do both could service all students. Dr. McNutt also touches on the fact that students would benefit from doing as much as they can to prepare for the future. A final piece of advice that Dr. McNutt gave that is extremely underrated is that students should read as much as they can, and to write for themselves. Reading expands the vocabulary and betters the ability to learn more efficiently, while the ability to write, even if only for yourself, gives you the ability to really be a part of and engage the world we live in. What well thought out and intellectual advice!
A cool fact about Dr. McNutt is that he’s not the only creative mind in the family. His brother is actually a “rock star” as Dr. McNutt puts it, living his dream of successfully playing music in his band for a living. The McNutt family obviously has that impressive creative gene in the family tree!