Kevin Cordi

Dr. Cordi holds a doctorate in Storytelling and Education (Drama, Literature, Reading, Language, and Culture) from The Ohio State University. He teaches literacy and education classes at Ohio University Lancaster where he serves as the Middle Childhood Coordinator. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board for Teaching Tolerance with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Chair for Storytelling for the National Council Teachers of English. His major research interests include content and disciplinary literacy, equity education, narrative pedagogy, and The Currere Method. He believes that deep listening to his students is as important as the curriculum he teaches. Dr. Cordi believes there is a powerful story at Ohio University and every day his students show him it is true.

Beyond academia, Dr. Cordi is a nationally recognized professional storyteller and storytelling coach, performing and consulting since 2001. He has worked with schools, festivals, and organizations across the country to mentor educators and performers in the art and purpose of storytelling. He is also the Founder and Director of the Voices Across the World Storytelling Project, an international initiative that promotes the educational value of youth storytelling across cultures.

Known for his vibrant energy, creativity, and commitment to imaginative learning, Dr. Cordi continues to inspire both students and educators to discover the power of their own stories—and to use them to build more meaningful, inclusive learning environments.

Selected Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

• Goss, A., Garlough, D., Cordi, K., Kieffer, R., & Akyeampong, A. (2020, April). Looking back and moving forward: Transforming an education department toward multiculturalism. The Ohio Journal of Teacher Education, 34(1), 101-130.
• Cordi, K. (2019). Remembering to be real: Not planning but finding authentic teaching – A Currere reflection. The Currere Exchange Journal, 3(1), 81-87.
• Cordi, K. (2018). When we listen. The Currere Exchange Journal, 2(1), 20-24.
• Cordi, K. (2016). Teaching on the edge: A college professor and a high school teacher examine how to improve small group discussions of YA texts. Ohio Council Teachers of Language Arts Journal, 56, 13-23.
• Cordi, K. (2016). Student voice and digital space. English in Texas Journal, 45(2), 12-17.
• Cordi, K. (2014). Reflection of a digital professor: Building comprehension of young adult texts using digital means. Signals Journal, 27-33.
• Cordi, K. (2014). Spiderman taught me to play: Using play to create narratives. Storytelling Magazine, 26, 5-7.
• Cordi, K. (2014). How children’s author and illustrator Laura Vaccaro Seeger plays with stories: Interview. Storytelling Magazine, 26(5), 9-12.
• Cordi, K., & Masturzo, K. (2013). Reclaiming cyberspace for students: Using literature and digital storytelling to create a safe place to address bullying. Voices from the Middle: A journal of the National Teachers of English, 20(3), 21-26.
• Cordi, K. (2012). Using drama to create fictional worlds. California English, 18(2), 19-22. https://cateweb.org/journals/november-2012/

Invited Publications

• Cordi, K. (2017). Mastermind article: Inviting personal movement in the telling process. Storytelling Magazine, 29(1), 5.
• Cordi, K. (2014). Playing with stories: Talking out the trouble to find story direction. Suspense Magazine (online), 26, 12-15. 
• Cordi, K., & Hicks, T. (2013). My journey into digital storytelling: Teaching using digital means. Perspective, Ohio Resource Council, 3-9.

Chapters in Edited Books   

• Cordi, K. (2017). Young adults tell stories: How to tell stories with teens. In J. M. Del Negro & M. A. Kimball (Eds.), Engaging teens with story: How to inspire and educate youth with storytelling (p. 109-129). Libraries Unlimited.

Books

• Cordi, K. (2019). You don’t know Jack: An American storyteller goes to school: Examining how narrative affects learning. University of Mississippi Press.
• Cordi, K. (2014). Playing with stories: Story crafting for writers, teachers, and other imaginative thinkers. Parkhurst Brothers.