Fargo, N.D. – Kelly Sassi, assistant professor in the NDSU English department and School of Education, had an article accepted for publication in Qualitative Inquiry. “ ‘If You Weren’t Researching Me and a Friend ...’: The Mobius of Friendship and Mentorship as Methodological Approaches to Qualitative Research” will appear in volume 18, issue 10 in December.

The article explores the affordances and risks of practicing friendship and mentorship as methodological approaches in two qualitative studies: the mentor’s study in a diverse ninth grade classroom and the protégé’s subsequent study of teacher professional development in the same school. By including mentorship as an extension of “friendship as method” for qualitative research, Sassi asserts mentorship as methodology socializes peers into the conventions of qualitative research.

Sassi’s research crosses disciplinary boundaries, studying social justice issues, pedagogy and writing assessment practices.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.