My coaching philosophy is informed by my training in qualitative research and participant observation techniques (gathering information, getting feedback, listening deeply, seeing patterns) as well as narrative theory (how beliefs inform a sense of self and identity) and certification in Co-Active Coaching. I practice a hybrid model of coaching and highly informed consulting. This hybrid model is framed by the depth of my expertise as a certified coach (7000 coaching hours), as well as my background as a former NIH-funded PI, Medical Anthropologist (PhD) and former faculty member. My approach to coaching is not formulaic. I practice a highly flexible and agile strength-based model responding to the specific needs of the client. For the 13 years I have been coaching leaders in academic and healthcare environments, a core component of my work is to help illuminate clients’ values, beliefs, and patterns in their behavior that both limit and can potentially grow their potential. My model is informed by my experience mentoring 20 coaches over the past 9 years (I am a director of a coaching program), as modeling self-awareness to the challenges of leadership informs my work calling on leaders to step up their own self-awareness. Together (“co-actively”) we develop steps to deepen self-awareness; explore options and opportunities to expand abilities and vision, and co-create systems of accountability to support behavioral change. Additionally, I draw upon my experience in theater to pay deep attention to non-verbal behaviors that reveal shifts and tensions in the stories that frame the client’s perspective, mindset, and thinking about workplace challenges. My work is informed by the latest research on academic achievement, leadership, neuroscience, and productivity. In a nutshell, my coaching approach is to listen deeply, allowing for silence, reflection, and space; providing clients with the opportunity to recognize who they are and what they bring.

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I am a certified professional co-active coach with over thirteen years of experience helping academics become more accomplished researchers, authors, grant writers and leaders. I bring extensive experience working with faculty members, university administrators, and graduate students, as well as executives and leaders in healthcare, finance and other corporate settings.  I have worked as a consultant and coach since 2005, and I have worked as a coach and Director of Coaching at ACW since 2010.

 

I have developed numerous programs and tools that help academics and leaders with time management, prioritizing and leadership. I specialize in helping academics identify small ways to change their behavior and develop strategies to meet their academic and work/life balance goals. Based on my expertise and additional training and certification from the Coaches Training Institute, and IPEC, I have developed coaching programs for academics and leadership coaching for individuals. I have developed coaching programs with such universities as Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. I have worked with academics from over 200 different universities nationally and internationally, developing leadership, work-life balance, and time management programs. 

 

In addition to my academic clients, I have also worked with professionals from non-profits, wealth management firms, and executives and leaders in such areas as the pharmaceutical and health care industries. In addition to my early training in the world of theater, I have worked for many years as a university professor, publishing in peer-reviewed books and journals, and teaching and conducting research on behavior change.

 

I leverage my training as a former faculty member in Public Health (George Washington University) and Cultural Anthropology (Whittier College).  I have also taught at the University of Nebraska, and The University of Texas at Austin. I received my PhD in cultural anthropology from The University of Texas at Austin and have post-doctoral training from the University of California-Berkeley and the University of California-San Francisco in medical anthropology. I have been principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on a variety of studies and have been funded by numerous sources including the NIH, DOD, the Wenner-Gren Foundation and SSRC. My academic publications focus on gender and identity construction, organizational culture, substance use, and doctor-patient communication.