This blog post shares a career discernment practice: K-W-L, a way of mapping what you already know, want to know, and need to learn. Career discernment coaching involves, among many things, listening to and learning from fears, uncertainties, and the many unknowns involved in making change. Sometimes what’s needed is recognizing fear—allowing it to speak, be witnessed, and given a right-sized role. Other times, what’s needed is a way to list and begin to answer ... Read more ...
career
20 Reading Recommendations for Career Discernment
Recently I joined my library's summer reading challenge. I have been inspired by and enjoying the wide-ranging challenges, which not only span genres and activities but also stretch me in surprising ways. Examples include "read an author with your initials," "send your local library a postcard," and "visit special collections and look up a newspaper article from the day you were born."In the midst of this summer reading challenge, I am imagining a "career discernment ... Read more ...
Writing Process Support: Supporting Postdoctoral Fellows as Writers
As writers, we need support not only for our products—what we are creating—but also for our processes—the how, when, where, who, and why of writing.This spring, Candace Epps-Robertson (of Full Circle Writing) and I have been offering a program that addresses these fuller needs and offers writing process support to postdoctoral fellows at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Briana Mohan, Program Director in Research Education & Training, invited us ... Read more ...
This Valentine’s Day, Here Are Questions to Hold with Care
This Valentine's Day, I want to share gratitude and say again that I'm making it through these times because of community care and creative interventions, including many small affirmations that add up to being here, breathing in and out, writing little by little, and taking it truly day by day.In these times, gifting feels more important than ever, so for the coming months (in my newsletter, via social media, and through YouTube), I'll be offering more prompts and ... Read more ...
Q&A with Pam Jones, Ph.D.: Butterflies, Kaleidoscopes, and Monsteras. Together, Educators Are Dreaming a New World.
Pam Jones, Ph.D. is someone I want you to know. Pam is a compassionate, visionary, and infinitely wise voice in the world of education. Since we've been working together, I've learned so much about intergenerational literacies and imaginative world-building. Pam teaches and inspires me (and so many of us) and holds such hope for what’s possible in striving toward liberation and justice. And now, thankfully, she’s offering to hold space and work one-on-one, with small ... Read more ...
After Academia: Career Paths in Community Writing
I am grateful to be presenting tomorrow (Saturday, October 25th) at the 2025 Conference on Community Writing, speaking on the roundtable “After Academia: Alternate Career Paths for Designing Justice.” Thanks to Megan Faver Hartline, Ph.D. (The Grants Clearinghouse) for organizing this session. And lots of gratitude for co-panelists Sonia Arellano, Ph.D. (Tampa VA Research and Education Foundation), Rachel Bloom-Pojar, Ph.D. (Confianza Collective), and Candace ... Read more ...
Meaningful Writing Doesn’t Always Make Its Way into Writing Portfolios
I recently created a new writing portfolio, which I am excited to share! Because my SelectedWorks page was sunsetted this summer, I needed a new way to share publications. The portfolio highlights some, while linking to a fuller list (what I’d share as part of an academic CV). I start with academic publications and then share pieces from public and community writing. And I include a final section of meaningful writing that doesn’t always (or even often) make its way ... Read more ...
Q&A with Sarah Gettel: Consultant, Operations Support, and Capacity Coach for Heart-Head-Hands
I am excited to introduce Sarah Gettel, a good friend and accountability partner who’s been working behind the scenes with Heart-Head-Hands: Everyday Living for Justice. Sarah and I met in 2019, soon after I’d left my faculty career, through mutual contacts engaged in racial justice organizing in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We deepened our relationship in the early days of the pandemic, forming an accountability pod and meeting regularly with Rasha Diab ... Read more ...
New Article: “Because We’re Going to Mess Up”: Practices for Accountability—Not a Piecemeal Approach
With gratitude, I write to share a new article: “‘Because We’re Going to Mess Up’: Practices for Accountability—Not a Piecemeal Approach” co-authored with good friend and frequent co-author Rasha Diab and published in College Composition & Communication (CCC). This piece has been a long time coming. We started drafting in 2019; first submitted in 2020; and have been revising, reshaping, and attempting to bring it to life these past 5+ years. The article arises, as ... Read more ...
Q&A with Candace Epps-Robertson, Ph.D.: Introducing Full Circle Writing, LLC
Many of you know Candace Epps-Robertson, Ph.D., a collaborator with Heart-Head-Hands, facilitator of writing groups, and co-creator of pathways through burnout. Candace has previously shared her work through the Q&A blog post “On Seasons of Life, Writing, and Career.” In January, Candace made a career transition, leaving her faculty position and launching Full Circle Writing, LLC. So, this Q&A blog post shares her business launch and new offerings to support ... Read more ...
