Writer
Writing inspires me and my readers to adopt a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world, live a more balanced and fulfilling life, connect with nature, and collaborate with others toward social justice. I’ve authored hundreds of pieces, including personal essays, short stories, poems, travel narratives, academic journal articles, books, and blog posts. After 17 years in academia, I resigned from my position as a tenured professor to pursue a full-time writing career. I traded my fast-paced, overworked academic life for a more intentional life of writing, meditating, and listening to the whispers of the universe.
Adventurer
Insatiable curiosity and a desire to learn pull me toward adventure. I consistently pursue and say “Yes!” to opportunities that align with my values, even when it seems impractical or out of the norm to do so. I’ve visited 29 countries and 38 states. I’ve lived in 6 states and on 1 ship. I regularly hike, camp, snowboard, and explore new places. When I look back on my life, I want to be able to say that I took advantage of every opportunity to live a full, unconventional life.
Reformer
A deep sense of justice motivates me to identify how systems and social structures can be more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. As a reformer, I constantly see where things can be improved. I try to live these improvements in my everyday life by making intentional choices rather than going with what’s easiest in the moment. As a sociologist, I know that these individual actions may not bring about large-scale social change, so I also stay informed about social issues, teach others how to think critically about the world around us, share my thoughts and experiences through writing and public speaking, learn about and share other people’s stories, volunteer, and donate to social and environmental justice organizations.