I began studying philosophy without knowing what it was, where it would take me, or how much it would change my life. It wasn’t until I started exploring questions like, “What is philosophy?” “Who is the philosopher?” and “What can philosophy do?” that I began to appreciate how philosophy can be practiced in ways that are meaningful for our everyday lives, particularly for those whose identities and experiences are marginalized by oppressive systems. Life and philosophy – the foundation for my ‘philifesophy.’

I have never been a traditional philosopher – I’ve shared more thoughts through public talks, blogs and YouTube videos than books and academic journals – but I’m passionate about what I do as a feminist philosopher because learning to think in transformative ways truly changed me. As an educator, I have seen it do the same for so many others, too. When we have the space and support to skillfully engage with big ideas and deep feelings, everything shifts.

My professional career has centered on creating inclusive organizational culture and working closely with executive leadership around equity, inclusion, and institutional transformation (what others often refer to as ‘organizational development’). Being trained in critical thinking, critical theory, and critical pedagogy provides a lens for liberation that allows me connect dots across disciplines and industries. It also helps me connect with different types of people. Basically, I’m a systems thinker who influences cultural change through genuine dialogue and authentic relationships. 

Once I started working as an administrator in higher education, I realized just how much my background in feminist theory informs my leadership, values, and commitments. And yet, it was after earning terminal degrees when my experience and learning really started to expand. (You can read more about that here.) Writers, artists, activists, and creatives, as well as students, colleagues, and friends, are my greatest teachers in life. Now, my energy still goes toward developing creative ways to share foundational concepts and basic skills so others can think for a change, too, but I’m focused on building capacity and collaborations in community so we can move together for equity and justice. 

Philosophy gave me tools to make sense of myself and my place in the world with responsibility and humility. Those tools allow me to continue learning more each day from various sources within and around me, but there are specific practices – ways of reflecting – that make it powerful, meaningful, and life-changing. Building on years of my own research and lived experience, I share and embody these practices through Positive Philosophy Consulting as a speaker, facilitator, consultant, and thought partner.

I’m passionate about critical reflection as a process of becoming a better person because this is necessary for creating a better world. Learning and becoming. Healing with support through our relationships. Building connection, community, and collective political consciousness. These are all practices for liberation – and they are all related.