Hello
I’m an educator, consultant, group facilitator, and the mother of a teenager. I’m passionate about helping parents and educators create the conditions young people need to flourish — especially during the complex transition into adolescence.
The teen years can be challenging for families, and the world itself often feels uncertain. Digital literacy helps, but it's not enough.
My work focuses on supporting parents, educators, and caregivers in building the structures and mindsets young people need to navigate a complex world with confidence and care.
My Story
After a decade in senior leadership roles at the George Lucas Educational Foundation, I found myself troubled by a contradiction: we know so much about how to engage young people, yet rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm continue to rise.
Time spent in the Skywalker Ranch research library led me to the study of rites of passage — the cross-cultural processes long used to help young people become healthy, engaged members of their communities.
(Movie nerd aside: Luke Skywalker’s story itself follows a classic rite-of-passage arc!)
I went on to study this work at Teachers College, Columbia University, developing a modern framework that blends developmental psychology with these time-tested structures. A Mira Fellowship in 2020 supported early prototyping, which became Pandora’s Way — an effort to translate research into practical tools for families and educators.
Today, this work continues through my consulting practice, where I partner with schools and communities to design programs that help young people — and the adults who support them — develop the skills and mindsets to navigate the digital world during these complex times.
Speaking and Publications
I have consulted on digital readiness and/or rites of passage with hundreds of families, as well as Pine Cobble School (Williamstown, MA), Park Day School (Oakland, CA), TRAILS Carolina, and the Institute for the Future.
I've been a featured guest on Slate.com's "Care and Feeding" podcast, as well as Shame Pinata. In addition to my regular blog on Substack, I have published articles on Better Humans, Edutopia, the Greater Good Science Center, and Education.com.
I have presented keynotes and workshops at conferences including The Association of Experiential Educators, The Connected Learning Summit, The Hero Round Table, Learning and the Brain, Wisdom 2.0, World Maker Faire, EduCon, and SXSW EDU.