May 25Reflecting on a year of ungrading, because grading hurts teachers, tooI’m a teacher, and I’ve spent 10 years in college classrooms. For the first time, however, I implemented “ungrading” — a process broadly defined as “leaving out grades, but it is not a method in which teachers stop evaluating students; instead, they are constantly evaluating their students progress by giving…Teaching5 min readTeaching5 min read
Aug 28, 2020Member-onlyCOVID, college safety, and the lost consideration of consentTW: Discussions of sexual violence I’m 20, a college sophomore, and traveling to participate in a university-sponsored event. As weekend events come to a close, participants, judges, and coaches begin the well-rehearsed practice of, well, partying. After 1 year in the activity, I’d learned quickly that, like most events, socializing…Covid-197 min readCovid-197 min read
Mar 24, 2020Member-onlyMy Mother’s Necklace: Choosing Community Over the EconomyMy mom is a type 1 diabetic. Growing up, I was fascinated by her medical alert necklace — a piece of jewelry that never has and never will leave her body. It was constantly draped around her neck. …Coronavirus5 min readCoronavirus5 min read
Mar 19, 2020Member-onlyTaking Time: Now is the Moment for an Open Educational Resource RevolutionThese are trying times. As a teacher, I am overwhelmed by a sudden urgency toward online conversion of my in-person senior capstone classes and a distinct need to support my department, graduate students, and other disciplinary allies. I am overwhelmed — trying to stay on top of tasks while keeping…Éducation6 min readÉducation6 min read
Jan 28, 2020The Woman Across the StreetIt’s a cold, Midwest Friday in Kansas City — for me, it’s the last free Friday in a 4-week winter vacation between college semesters. As a faculty member, weeks of no teaching can often result in a heightened anxiety — an agitation from feeling confined in the house. …6 min read6 min read
Sep 26, 2019My dad used our estranged relationship to manipulate women. Here’s how I feel.My dad left my mom on June 10, 1989 to continue one of many affairs. He told her over the phone. On June 10, 1989, I was nearly 2 years old. At 2, my inability to form memories was a privilege. …Family6 min readFamily6 min read
Jun 12, 2019About last night, or “You don’t need to touch me.”I needed a night out with a best friend. I’d experienced a few hard weeks of intense self-scrutiny, an emotional breakdown, and I was working to build myself back up. …Feminism4 min readFeminism4 min read
Jan 3, 2019You can’t read what you can’t afford, or when did textbooks become so sleazy? Notes from your feminist friendI consistently hear that “students are not reading the required textbook.” As an introductory course director, my job partially requires the training and oversight of graduate assistants responsible for teaching public speaking to more then 2,500 students a year. And they don’t understand why students don’t read. I, too, remember…Education5 min readEducation5 min read
Sep 10, 2018Weight Rooms are Weird: Feminism, Fitness, and the Role of ‘We.’I’ve recently become a gym rat. No, really. For the past year, I’ve found myself (primarily) weight lifting at the gym for 90 minutes 4–5 times a week. I feel strong, but more than that, it’s been a great way to connect and spend time with my partner (who is…Fitness4 min readFitness4 min read
Jun 18, 2018Notes from a Thankful Daughter to an Absent Dad: Belated Father’s Day ReflectionsAs a young girl, I reveled in my athleticism. I was proud to be an athlete because sports gave me power. I felt powerful when I’d win, when I’d score, and when I’d land a flip or master a move. As a young girl, sports were my fatherly connection. I…Family4 min readFamily4 min read
