Professionally, I am a student, currently finishing up my dissertation focused on disabled students and disability cultural centers using organizational culture frameworks. I bring in a feminist ethic of care and Disability Justice lens to my interpretive analysis. I am also an adjunct instructor, faculty development facilitator, and student support person- in these roles I try to promote, foster, and participate in mutual, peer support structures. My “expertise” and formal training might be characterized as “chaotic good,” connecting agricultural engineering, water resources and public health, humanitarian aid, sustainable(?) development, teaching and education, organizational culture in higher education, social justice, and disability. For the past 20 years, I have been privileged to live and work in many awesome places: I am grateful for my international and cross-cultural existence, and it informs my (dynamic, plural) worldview.

Now that I think about it, “chaotic good” might also describe me personally. I am a white person with an American passport living in France with my autistic gamer son who was born in Cairo and my husband, a Syrian with a French passport. I am neurodivergent (Autistic and Mad) and often in pain. I have a tendency to overshare when I get really excited about things, and I get excited about a lot of things. Lately I’ve been excited about complexity, unmasking, doing nothing, encouraging photosynthesis, and making art.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Why I’m in MYFest:

Slow community is real community. I participated last year and found that I love the design and experience of MYFest. It did not dominate my time or tire me; it energized me. The structure of tracks helped my autistic brain organize, but I was free to pop in and out without feeling like I had to choose anything over another. I can not wait for all the good stuff on the calendar already and things still being imagined. I am honored to contribute more this year and be of more service to this growing community.

MYFest involvement:

Facilitator and co-facilitator for topics that don’t strictly fall into a track, like micro-stories, artsy pen-palling (really slow community), cultural humility, and maybe explore something about publishing (let’s make a book!).