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He’s listed as being on staff at James Madison University (JMU), but Chapman Frazier’s place of work is actually in Prince Edward County, helping students at local schools. He carries the title of Professor in Residence, a college professor on a high school, and at times middle school campus. 

The professor-in-residence program is a project at JMU, designed to help underserved and underrepresented students at Virginia middle and high schools. Each of the participating districts gets a JMU faculty member, someone who makes a weekly visit to work with counselors, administrators and students in issues determined by the partner school. The position is paid by James Madison University and is designed to provide support for diverse students who are interested in attending a college or university after graduation. 

“I often provide support for students who are first generation students, whose parents did not have an opportunity to attend college,” Frazier said. “JMU has a very strong interest in supporting diversity both on campus and helping marginalized students who are academically strong but may be financially challenged to attend a university.” 

What is a ‘Professor in Residence’?

As a Professor in Residence, Frazier is required to provide support for teachers and students within the school system. Currently, he works mostly with students and teachers at the middle and high school, though in the past he has worked with elementary teachers as well.

The project also helps students organize college visits. JMU funds several trips a year for students to visit campus and have a tour of the facilities, eat lunch in a dining hall and attend sessions with current students, who will give them a taste of college life. Prince Edward students have used the program to take a look at JMU, UVA, Longwood University and Southside Community College. 

Frazier said he has done in-service workshops on using discussion circles in the classroom and is currently working with teachers at Prince Edward Middle on how to integrate more writing about nonfiction texts. In addition, he’s done poetry workshops at Prince Edward High and advocates the importance of engaging students in creative writing in order to promote an emotional attachment to writing so they become more comfortable with it. 

Frazier also occasionally meets with administrators also to see what initiatives they would like him to work with during the year. For example this semester, he’s working with teachers on how best to address writing across the curriculum in science and social studies.

Helping teachers and students

Frazier says he sees himself as being a support for teachers and students. 

“Teachers are stressed and stretched thin sometimes,” Frazier said. “There is a shortage of substitutes in all three schools which makes them often have to cover other classes during what is supposed to be their planning time.” 

He has spoken to the School Board members about this situation. He sees being an advocate for teachers as being important also. Frazier will be taking the middle school students to the planetarium this year and to see Southside Community College.