Dr. Sawyer brought in Psychologist, Dr. JT Torres, Director of the Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning, who brought humor, mission, drive, and good conversation for all of us to think about, especially in our multiple insider/outsider roles we play at institutions with a mission for the word belonging. Belonging has already been on my radar for readings in the upcoming year, especially after meeting James Bird and Reading his middle grade novels. Drawing on brain functions, relationships, connections, and humanity, he featured a conversation about mentoring - critical mentoring - which has also been central to my past year: Tricksters, Healers, Lovers, Sages, & Saviors. He discussed how belonging is a foundation for learning. If the relationship is not there or the space is not loving and supportive, learning will not occur.
Sue McV 101. Brown School 101. I was blessed to learn this several decades ago in a K-12 school.
Although I had plenty to say and was anxious about speaking up at open mic time, I simply sat back and listened. I love hearing from faculty and staff across campus and to gain perspectives from the ways they see the world. I put on an ethnographer hat and simply typed up the day as it was happening, so I can draw from it in a grant proposal I want to work on this summer as CWP heads past it's 40th year on campus
Today and tomorrow calls for nonstop rain, so I'm pilling up books, lying around, getting ahead on reading, and slowly putting both my bathrooms back together. The paint now makes me see that I probably should do some redecorating to match the colors, meaning my bachelor tendencies will be challenged.
What makes you memorable? Hmmm. Good question. I don't want to be remembered as much as I hope the actions I've taken in my life will be carried by others in the future.
