I'm prepping my lecture on DEI in social media marketing (students tell me each term this is one of their favorites). Unsurprisingly, when I'm checking my source links, several are now "broken" (e.g., my link for an article from Accenture on the value of DEI in marketing no longer works).

2 things: 1) When I’m feeling narcissistic, I pretend all the Ms on Michigan’s campus are for me, and 2) Why aren’t companies looking to sponsor tailgates by having people use tents with their logos (like regular people in regular lots doing regular tailgating)?

Hey so, if this Delta pilot could refrain from speaking loudly on the phone about all the things this other pilot doesn’t do correctly while flying, that would be great.

Another 8 copies of "A Field Guide to Grad School" were dropped in the mail today bringing the total to 836! This endeavor started in 2020 and I haven't given up on reaching my goal of 1,000 since! I'm eager to reach all 50 states and still need: AK, ME, NE, ND, SD, VT, WV, and WY. Can you help?

Well, it happened. A student in class today said, “Well, back in your day…” I audibly gasped.

During Thanksgiving and holidays, people want to do food drives where they collect canned goods etc... and I really would love to offer that food banks need MONEY so if you can collect and donate MONEY please do that. They can then use those funds to purchase what's needed AT DISCOUNTS.

My annual reminder to students that you want a letter of recommendation from someone that can speak to your work and your work ethic in detail. Get to know your professors before you need a letter, and ask the professors that have commented on your work. Office hours are ideal for this.

In 5th grade, I was assigned Massachusetts for a state project. I guess it was fate that I’d go to college outside Boston and now spend my fall break here.

Well there's a lot of bad in the world but...as part of my midterm feedback, a student -- in response to "What is one way I currently support your learning?" -- wrote that my "whimsical personality" facilitated their learning. I didn't realize I had the whimsy in me!

My friend and I walked along the eastern shoreline of Manhattan today. We walked side-by-side the whole time. According to her Apple phone, her walk was 18.2 miles. According to my Apple phone, my walk was 15.5 miles. What?!

I will say as someone living in New York, there’s nothing I want more than a Red Sox win tonight.

I'm prepping for my lecture on Cardi B tomorrow (in the context of social media campaigns). Recently, a woman went viral on TikTok because she carries a picture of Malala Yousafzai to hold her accountable and get work done. Clearly, I need to print my own pic of Cardi B. The woman doesn't rest.

Full disclosure: I’ve only read the abstract. With that in mind, I had such a strong reaction to the finding. Bluesky has not replicated #AcademicTwitter for me. Of course, I am but 1 person in a particular discipline (or 2). But it remains that I’m quite disappointed in my ability to connect here.

TIL Eric Adams was still running for NYC mayor

Fran is going to Boston! Planning a mini break around your dog is major DINKWAD energy...

If you need a little hope this morning - the current tween trend involves decorating clothespins with affirming messages, then clipping them on friends' backpacks when they're not looking. Here are a few that my 11-year-old decorated this weekend ❤️

The problem with getting up early on the weekend is that my friends aren’t yet up and aren’t responding to my messages. It’s like the few sleepovers I attended as a child - I’d lay there for hours bored until someone finally woke up. We had no phones then!

As a grad student, I thought I that if I didn't have something scheduled, that "free" time was up for grabs for anyone. Not true! Here's hoping you can protect your time earlier in your career than I did! mmarginalia.substack.com/p/protect-yo...

My lab is hiring a lab manager! Application deadline = 11/1, start date sometime between June & September 2026 (to be arranged with finalist). Please spread the word & apply here: opportunities.columbia.edu/jobs/a3f80f7.... #AcademicSky #PhdSky #PsychSciSky #SocialPsyc #DevPsyc #psychjobs

Watching Netflix’s new documentary “Unknown Number.” I’m 5 min in and a number of texts have been shared on the screen. I‘m preregistering that this is an adult texting this child. Just look at the language used! Ok…stay tuned.

Want to set your PhD students up for success during the spring term? I’m available Jan 1-21 to deliver programming w/2 stipulations: 1) must be outside U.S., 2) must help with travel. This isn’t about making money; it’s about serving the academic community (& doing so in places good for my health).

I may live in NY but my governor is @govpritzker.illinois.gov

It’s my first first day of school without Henry in 13 years…I suppose this mug will do (generously gifted to me by a former UChicago research assistant, featuring Henry at his first Stony Brook baseball game).

Is your flight really 2.5 hours in the air or are you just taxiing at O’Hare.

Here's something to laugh about. For the first time in my life, I have a full set of (semi)permanent teeth! Counting baby teeth, I was born missing 5. Compliments of expensive orthodontics/dentistry (shoutout to my parents & partner) 1/4 of my teeth are now fake, but my smile is real!

When you are less than a dollar away from reaching some promo threshold (like spend $100) to receive an incentive ($30 off future order), you should be able to "round up" and have that amount donated to an approved cause (vs. buying another item).

Back in Chicago next week for AMA's summer conference! I'll be sharing very new findings from a project with Michal Maimaran exploring how parents navigate their tweens' social media use. I'm also happy to connect with any PhD students attending the conference (who doesn't like free coffee/food?!).

Drinking water has become my part-time job this past week in London 😅

I'm excited to be giving a TEDxOshkosh talk this fall, Nov. 15! It's about one of my favorite research projects, showing that people learn more than they expect from conversations with strangers. Tix and more info: www.tedxoshkosh.com/attend/speak... @tedxoshkosh.com #TEDxOshkosh #TEDxOshkosh2025

And while I'm here on Bluesky today, I'd like to petition to have more orgs consider Detroit for their conferences (if hosting in the U.S.).

Alright friends - with the new academic year upon us, I plan to put in an order for more books. This year, I hope to reach 1,000 books gifted. Can you help me do that? Let me know! I wish I knew exactly how many people have donated to this effort - but I do know I'm grateful to them all!

Well, now that summer break is coming to an end, time to plan winter break! If you'd like to immerse your PhD students in professional dev programming (writing, mentorship, project planning, etc.) in January, let me know. I'm available and eager to visit new places.

The University of Michigan wants me to travel to Frankfurt, Germany to see them play Western Michigan. In this economy? Not even a marquee game?!

Data collection continues and boy do I have some insights for brands like Target, Walmart, Old Navy, and Gap. But I also need research funds so hmu because these insights aren’t free!

Bumping one more time since I meet with the student again tomorrow. Please consider sharing 15-20 minutes with an awesome student!

OB/Management/Psych Folks: I'm connected with a fantastic high school intern through ERASE Racism on LI and she is developing a research project around "hiring discrimination in corporate environments". Would you have 15-20 minutes to speak with her? Plz repost!

I’m asking kids about brands for a pilot study and, at the end, I ask whether there are any brands they really like that I didn’t ask them about. The most recent child joyfully shared “Home Depot.”

How apt...

My credit card statement indicates I just came to Chicago to eat tacos.

Loved talking kids, money, and financial literacy on The Making Cents Podcast. We covered: allowances, kids’ money decisions, inequality & community resources, & great kids' books about money. Curious how kids learn about money? Let’s chat! www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8p2...

I popped over to Canada yesterday and my friend commented on a woman’s manicure that featured Canadian flags. The woman responded saying she just went to Europe and didn’t want people to think she was from the United States. But plot twist- that feels like a very US thing to do.

On Monday, I put out a call to colleagues to serve as guests for a research seminar I'm offering for ERASE Racism's youth interns. Within a few hours, all guest slots were spoken for! I'm now looking for supplemental materials to support student learning. I'd appreciate your recs - plz repost!

What does it mean to be generous? I recently explored this with journalist Emma Wilkins, who writes for the Templeton Foundation. It was a joy to connect and discuss how generosity develops, varies across cultures, and shapes our work. www.templeton.org/news/fair-or...

I can get door-to-door from NY to northern Poland in the same time I can drive from Long Island to Chicago. That’s pretty cool…and also why I’m grateful to be able to hop on a plane for a few days away.

@mirya.bsky.social has just confused a lot of people who are not chronically online. Love it!

💫Now that we’re done teaching, let’s talk about teaching! Popping in to offer my 2 cents on how to reflect on the most recent term. I ask myself 6 questions and perhaps you should, too! mmarginalia.substack.com/p/now-that-w...

Yesterday marked the end of Rnd 15 for the #100DaysOfWriting grp. Since starting modestly in 2019, the grp has grown to include 100s of scholars from around the 🌏. Since 2020, we've hosted 2,165 co-writing sessions bringing together 20,000+ participants. Give us a try! www.tinyurl.com/100DaysRound16

The last 3 books for the academic year are on their way to prospective/current PhD students! This brings the total # of books provided to 828 (at least!). Many thanks to Barb Tonetti and @princetonupress.bsky.social for being wonderful partners in this endeavor. Time to buy more books!

Oh, hey, it’s me! Learn more about my motivations for launching my newsletter and some of my favorite things like @eveewing.bsky.social’s new(ish) book “Original Sins” and Substacks written by @mirya.bsky.social and @roxanegay.bsky.social!

I don’t have lounge access like *the* @mirya.bsky.social, so I have to settle for smooth talking bartenders who have an easy time upselling middle aged couples.