Phillip Mitchell

From the time he was a child, Dr. Phillip Mitchell has always loved the written word and music.

"I had a dual identity," he said. "I wrote stories and I wrote songs. Both practices formed who I am."

The assistant professor of English at the University the North Georgia (UNG) has earned several accolades for his talents in higher education and in the music industry.

In January 2020, Mitchell received a UNG Presidential Incentive Award to research an in-progress novel, "When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears." He was also one of two winners of UNG's best practices in service-learning award at the 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation. A year earlier, Mitchell received a Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) grant from the Association of American Colleges and Universities for the Blue Ridge Scholars Literacy Project.

The initiative involved an assortment of service-learning projects, one of which deployed UNG students as teaching assistants in literature in Fannin County public schools. Mitchell collaborated with Dr. Nathan Price, Dr. Alison Hite, Dr. Andrew Pearl, Dr. Robert Scott, and Dr. Paula Mullins to implement the project on the Blue Ridge Campus.

His work with the Blue Ridge Scholars Program led to presentations at the University System of Georgia's Teaching and Learning Conference and UNG's Symposium on Innovation, Research, and Engagement. Both were in 2017.

As a songwriter, Mitchell has been successful as well. In 2013, eight of his songs were entered into the UK Songwriting Competition, an international contest that gives winners the opportunity to work with top names in London's music business. Seven songs were semifinalists and one was a finalist.

"I've placed in the finals twice since then and 14-15 times in the semifinals," he said.

The Nashville Songwriters Association has tapped him "One to Watch" 12 times, including three times in 2020. He has also received the highest recommendation for nine songs, which are considered for inclusion at the quarterly Publisher's Luncheon in Nashville.

"Because I'm a solitary songwriter, and don't play out much, this is a great opportunity for people to hear my music," he said.

But Mitchell has shared his songs with his students on the Blue Ridge Campus. He uses his songs to teach some components of writing. Using his music helps him to connect with his students. During the 2017-2018 academic year, one student in particular enjoyed his music. 

"Halee Stone, one of the Blue Ridge Scholars, shared her songs with me," Mitchell said. "They were impressive. She has a good sense of melody, song structure, and how to write evocative lyrics."

He recorded a couple of demos in his home studio as Stone's mom watched from the sidelines.

"It was fulfilling, because it enabled me to use both parts of who I am, a teacher and an artist," he said. "That's rewarding."

In addition to winning in the UK Songwriting Contest, Mitchell was a four-time finalist in 2021. He was also awarded a special mention on the International Songwriting Contest.