This week on Notes From a Work Friend, I share a strategy that’s helped me lead deeper, less draining class discussions even in charged political climates. Fall semester still feels so far away, but it's closer than we think. Here’s a tool to help. #HigherEd open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

We have a fantastic new collection on the UVA Teaching Hub curated by @brielleharbin.bsky.social! It's called "From Class to Community: Centering Trust in Learning Spaces," and it features half a dozen great resources on fostering collaborative learning. teaching.virginia.edu/collections/...

Most stories about leaving academia come from people who’ve already made the leap. But what if you’re still in the in-between? Not ready to leave. 
Not sure you want to stay. 
Just... questioning. I wrote about that space for The Professor Is In:
👉 theprofessorisin.com/2025/05/05/o... #EduSky

What can Game of Thrones teach us about ChatGPT in the classroom? In my latest post, I make the case that AI is in its "dragon moment"—and what that means for us as educators. 🐉 Spoiler-free, promise. 😎 notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com/p/mother-of-... #edusky #highered

What if your final review session wasn’t just for students… but for your research too? 🧠 What started as a way to cut down on “What do I need to know for the exam?” emails from students has become something that helps me generate research questions. 📚 Read more: open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Often, doing less is more meaningful. For example, in this easy-to-replicate exercise, students learned more about me and the course material at the same time.  #edusky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

“What does it look like to put my oxygen mask on first and make sure that I’m okay while also acknowledging the reality that my everyday efforts are impacting what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my students?” notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com/p/this-is-th...

I’ve learned through experience the power of sharing your story. So many of us have them. What part of your story is worth owning and sharing to help yourself and others? You can read my latest work published this morning below. #edusky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

I was promoted & awarded tenure last week! 🎉Help me celebrate by subscribing to the Substack I created to prompt conversations that help make academia a better place from the inside. I write about teaching, writing, etc thru the lens of media & pop culture. #edusky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

My latest post discussing the rollback of diversity and equity policies in higher ed is now live. In full transparency, it’s getting harder to keep writing every week but I know it will be so important to have documented this moment for future generations. #edusky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

My latest blog is now live on Substack! In it, I use social media responses to Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl performance to analyze how this quintessentially American experience—the Super Bowl—made the value of higher education so obvious. open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Teaching any topic related to government or politics is tough right now. There’s no “best way” to show up—we’re all just doing what we can. In my latest blog post, I describe a strategy I’m using to maintain connection with my students despite everything. open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

“I’m fighting the urge of escapism. Instead, I keep asking myself what this moment requires of me—what it will require of us?” My latest Notes From a Work Friend substack release is now live. I appreciate every ❤️, 💭, & ♻️. #EduSky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

“I’ve failed enough at creating community in this context to offer others valuable insights into what it takes to get this right.” In case you missed it, my latest blog post on creating classroom community is now live! #edusky #classroomcommunity open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

My latest blog post is live! For my colleagues thinking about the importance of classroom community this semester: I describe an easy assignment you can use to “read the room” and use the info to build a cooperative learning community. #edusky #collegeteaching open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Did you know that in 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General described loneliness as an epidemic in the United States? In my latest blog post, I describe how to create the writing community you want and need. Check it out and share if the ideas resonate. #academicwriters open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

My latest Substack post is now live—check it out! In it, I discuss the importance of community for faculty members and educators. It takes work that isn’t often formally rewarded but it can make the difference between surviving and THRIVING in academia. #edusky open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Happy (almost) new year! I’ve gained new followers over the last week & want to plug the substack I created w/ weekly tips for building & maintaining university learning and work spaces where people feel they belong & can thrive. You can subscribe for free! #edusky notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com

This time of year can be complicated—both personally and professionally. In my latest blog post, I describe the end of semester ritual I created for processing the semester and leaving the unhelpful behind. End of semester blues are real and require our attention. open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Happy Wednesday all! My latest post from my Notes From a Work Friend newsletter is now live! 💡In it, I build on a LinkedIn post I wrote last week about review sessions & offer three principles for designing similarly constructive sessions in any discipline. open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Whew, this one. I didn’t expect to feel both triggered and delighted when opening Bluesky and clicking a post this morning. This piece is so important. Especially, the recognition that individual stories should not distract us from the structural issues that allow them. A must read.

In case you missed it yesterday. The grading purgatory is real this week!

My new blog post will likely resonate with many of you: tackling grade grubbing at the end of the semester. ❤️ or ♻️ and subscribe to receive my free newsletter to your inbox each week! notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com/p/my-strateg...

I’ve seen quite a bit of conversation about AI ethics that has focused on student cheating and intellectual property but not AI sweatshops in East Africa. This reporting by 60 minutes is a must watch. youtu.be/qZS50KXjAX0

I’ve had very similar experiences, which is why I always share that I’m a doctor & when I say I’ve read up on something, I’m not talking WebMD expert. Still had to pay 2k out of pocket last year for a routine dental procedure after years of only needing cleanings twice a year. The greed is real.

My latest Notes from a Work Friend blog post is now live! In it, I discuss a common pain point for college faculty members: students doing the assigned reading. Check it out! If you find it useful 💭 , ❤️ and ♻️ so that others can read and engage! open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Love that this is making the rounds again right now. Cadence in writing is so important. The academic genre of writing can make it difficult, but I try my best to use it.

My latest blog post describing an activity I used to guide students to discover where they were unclear about course concepts and do something about it. Should be useful for wrap up class sessions. Subscribe to receive my free weekly posts directly to your inbox! open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

This is 100% love language to a frazzled academic’s heart. Love it! ❤️

My latest Notes From a Work Friend blog post is now live! 💡 Likely a timely post for faculty members (or people who love them): coping with mean comments in student evaluations. ❤️ or ♻️ if find the post useful so others can read it! notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com/p/end-of-the...

Just finished uploading this week’s post to my Notes From a Work Friend substack. I’m talking everyone’s end of semester topic they love to hate: student evaluations. Subscribe (it’s free!) to get the post direct to your inbox when it goes live on Wednesday morning. notesfromaworkfriend.substack.com

TikTok's algorithm is super personalized -- and super opaque. So, my colleagues and I asked 1,000 people to send us their browsing histories, and we found: Most people get about 8% politics in their feeds, but a few get as much as 30%. gift link: wapo.st/40uSUJG

Yes, Trump can use recess appointments to bypass the Senate. Read @sarahbinder.bsky.social on recess appointments and the standard "advice and consent" path that Trump sounds like he might try to avoid. goodauthority.org/news/trump-r...

My latest blog post on what it means to show up and lead in the classroom in such a politically divided time. open.substack.com/pub/notesfro...

Here's a link to a recent post I authored reacting to a digital discussion about the challenge of making our expectations apparent to students. I describe how making our expectations explicit can reduce faculty members' workload & offer a prompt faculty can use in their courses. Link in 1st comment!

Wonder how social media moderators as gatekeepers decide what content is political? Come see my talk today at 2pm in Franklin 12, part of @polcomm.bsky.social session on The Limits of Free Expression on Social Media! #APSA2024

Since a lot of y'all are in political science, I'll recommend the interview I did last year with Brielle Harbin, who teaches politics, race, and media at the US Naval Academy: intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/1370.... She also won the 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award from APSA!

My latest article “What It Means to Know: Gender Differences in How White Men and Women Justify Their Drug-Related Beliefs” is now 1st view at International Politics. I began this research while a postdoc at @PoliticsAtPenn so I’m thrilled for it to finally be out in the world!

It's that time again #polisky! Are you a grad student going to #APSA and want to talk about research (esp. policy feedback or American Political Economy), publishing, the job market (esp. women, LGBTQ+ folks), etc.? Coffee/tea's on me for the first two who email. Don't be shy!

If you missed the great @mirya.bsky.social talking about gender and respect in American politics (using Kamala Harris's name as the main character of the story) on @npr.org yesterday like I did, you can listen to the clip here: www.npr.org/2024/07/24/n...

Wow—not excited about the tiered seating system but love that I will have direct red eye flights to several places I want to go!

Hivemind: Is anyone aware of an emotions in politics textbook that has applications in electoral politics, intergroup relations, and/or media? Prepping a new course for the fall and would love to be able to have a main text. Thank you in advance!

Does anyone have a complete list of public opinion / polling podcasts? I know of a few (a thread):

Some good news: I recently won a research grant to support my work on community storytelling about place in the context of local decision making about land use and development. It’s taken time for people to understand my research agenda so this feels really rewarding! Can’t wait to write this book!

I’m super excited about my latest candle creation “Progress in Prose” for my new YCC Writing Focus Work Kit. Inspired by my cousin who loves peppermint and inspired me to embrace a journaling practice (it was a struggle!). I’m using this kit later this week during a writing retreat with friends!

Beyond thrilled to share my newly accepted article at the journal Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy! This is co-(first) authored with my brilliant friend Nicholas Alt at Occidental College. As two Asian American scholars, we were concerned about affirmative action so we ran some studies!!!

Are Beliefs about "Being a Man" Associated with White American Men's Self-Perceptions about Confronting Racism?: http://osf.io/8w9pc/

Everyone who got too into my mentions about the tweets from the online data quality symposium at #SPSP this is the paper: