Professional record
Praxis across research, art, teaching, and institutions.
Selected appointments, teaching, presentations, leadership, consulting, grants, and public work across institutions and communities.
Appointments & research
My research practice has developed through higher education, independent research, organizational consulting, community partnership, and arts-based inquiry.
2024–2026
Postdoctoral Research Fellow · UCLA DataX & Gender Studies
Research on trauma, disability, critical data studies, arts-based inquiry, relational infrastructures of care, and development of Archiving the Trauma Diaspora as a book project.
2019–2020
Postdoctoral Research Fellow · Barger Leadership Institute, University of Michigan
Qualitative programmatic assessment using collaboratively developed interview instruments, participant observation, focus-group work, retreat evaluation, interviews, and photovoice.
2019
Independent Research Consultant · Fetzer Institute
Literature review and interdisciplinary research on personal, spiritual, social, and institutional transformation.
2018
Executive Consultant · Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
Worked directly with Executive Director Lila Shane on strategy, fundraising, membership, institutional change, partnerships, and funder communication.
Teaching & facilitation
Teaching has moved between university classrooms, museums, public schools, correctional settings, workshops, art spaces, and experimental learning communities.
2024
Adjunct Faculty · Eastern Illinois University
Art Education for Elementary Schools Studio; Art, Culture, and Community.
2011–2017
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Instructor of Record and Teaching Assistant across Writing with Video, Introduction to Art, Contemporary Issues in Art, and Summer Academic Achievement programming.
2006–present
School for Designing a Society / Gesundheit Institute
Teaching, facilitation, organizational leadership, Desire and Design, Construct Your Humanism, and community creativity workshops.
2007–2010
Orpheum Children’s Science Museum
Education leadership, program development, grants, museum learning, and Girls Do Science programming.
2011–present
Community-based teaching
Feminist zine making, citizen journalism, correctional-center creative writing, printmaking, filmmaking, trauma-responsive writing, grief writing, Rainbow Writing, and ongoing community creativity work.
Selected talks & public scholarship
2026
Care Beyond Institutions
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, New Orleans.
2025
Human Dimensions of Caregiving
MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.
2016–2019
Trauma, mindfulness, archives, disability, and arts-based research
Presentations at Goldsmiths University of London, the International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry, National Art Education Association conventions, and contemplative-higher-education conferences.
Leadership & institutions
2019–present
Board Member · Amherst Writers & Artists
Former co-chair of Power of Story; co-development and support of affinity-based, trauma-responsive, and community-engaged programming.
2010–2012
Interim Executive Director · School for Designing a Society
Grants, budgets, strategic planning, staff coordination, fundraising, policy, curriculum, education, and institutional partnerships.
2026–present
Contractor · Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office
Training, facilitation, program support, health-and-wellness curriculum, arts-based programming, exhibition development, and systems consultation.
Grants & funded work
I have authored and helped secure more than $400,000 for educational, cultural, contemplative, museum, and community organizations.
Selected
Illinois Arts Grant · Self Care Creativity Workshops
2024.
Selected
Lenz Foundation / Fetzer Institute proposals
Research, restructuring, partnerships, contemplative higher education, and institutional development.
Selected
City of Urbana Public Arts Commission / IMLS
Public arts, creative collaboration, museum education, and community programming.
Education
2018
PhD · Art Education
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
2012
MS · Library and Information Science
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
2003
AB · History
Smith College.