Published in Age of Awareness·PinnedMember-onlyThe Mistake of Underestimating AdolescentsWe alienate young people when we deny the depth of their experiences — Across history and culture, human beings have put a lot of energy into understanding adolescence. Life experiences from the pre-teen and teenage years leave deep grooves on the fabric of our personal narratives. Adults tend to recall this phase of life in more detail than others. …Psychology7 min readPsychology7 min read
Published in Be Open·Jan 2Member-onlyOn Strength: My Recovery After Prophylactic Mastectomy & Reconstruction SurgeryThe Plan. On 10/26/2022, I had surgery to reduce my lifetime risk of breast cancer drastically. I had a plan for my recovery. I was going to eat nothing but healthy food. I was going to exercise as much as possible within limits set by my medical team. I was going to…Womens Health9 min readWomens Health9 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Nov 17, 2022Member-only5 Invaluable Tips for College StudentsFrom a professor’s perspective — The advice I’m offering here is intended to help young adults be intentional about creating meaningful college experiences. One of the things I love most about being a professor is seeing the tremendous personal growth and development that happens for students as they navigate this pivotal chapter of their lives. 1. Question everything …College6 min readCollege6 min read
Published in Be Open·Mar 11, 2022Member-onlyWhy I Don’t Want Kids: 5 Common MisconceptionsMaybe it’s because I recently entered my thirties, but I’ve been thinking a lot about how people react when I say that I don’t want children. I have gotten some reactions that feel judgmental or patronizing. Very often though, people react with kindness, acceptance, and curiosity even if they don’t…Childfree By Choice7 min readChildfree By Choice7 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 4, 2022Member-onlyTrying to Find the “Right” Career Path When There Isn’t OneIt’s time to stop treating jobs like soulmates — Many of my young adult students expect that they’ll have things all figured out by the time they are my age. It doesn’t occur to them that someone past their early-mid twenties could still be navigating what they want out of a career or changing course. I assumed the same…Work7 min readWork7 min read
Published in Educate.·Feb 10, 2022Member-onlyAre We Actually Showing Students That We Care About Them?7 tangible ways I show my investment — I care about my students. Most every instructor can say the same. Lately, I’ve been thinking back to high school creative writing classes where the aphorism “Show. Don’t tell.” was drilled into me and asking myself am I showing my undergraduate students that I care? …Higher Education7 min readHigher Education7 min read
Published in Educate.·Oct 31, 2021Member-onlyRedefining College SuccessA rigid approach is stifling students — I’ve seen many definitions of college success. As a researcher, I’ve examined these definitions to try and understand what helps students achieve their goals. All these measures are useless though, if we fail to capture the nuance of what a rewarding college experience really entails. Students are frequently inundated with…Higher Education7 min readHigher Education7 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Oct 5, 2021Member-onlyLessons on Humanity from Science FictionFinding ourselves in fictional worlds — If I’ve learned anything from researching identity development, it’s that we cannot understand ourselves without looking outside ourselves. Science fiction does this on the grandest scale. It challenges us to contextualize human identity within an infinite universe. It prompts us to interrogate our values and confront the paradoxes of our…Science Fiction7 min readScience Fiction7 min read
Aug 12, 2021Member-onlyThe Death of ObsessionFreedom for a shackled soul Killer Genes Last year, at age 29, I learned that I have a genetic mutation which puts me at high risk for breast and colon cancer. The more research emerges, the more I understand that I am probably at high risk for several other cancers too. The…Mwc Death7 min readMwc Death7 min read
Published in Educate.·Jul 29, 2021Member-onlyOnline Learning and the College ExperienceFostering community in online classrooms — When I enrolled in an online graduate program, I was met with several raised eyebrows and questions about whether my degree would be respected by potential employers. This kind of skepticism has been prevalent since the earliest days of online learning. Attitudes towards online education are changing, though. Demand for…Higher Education7 min readHigher Education7 min read