Why are you interested in human flourishing at work? 

It’s really simple.  People spend huge parts of their lives at work or doing work. I’m interested in cultivating the organizational communication processes that make it possible for them to live their core genius and express their multi-faceted crystallized selves.  

What motivates you? What gets you up in the morning/keeps you awake at night? 

I’m motivated by two sides of a coin. First, problems at work (such as workplace bullying, injustices, and burnout) light my fire in terms of tackling how they can be better understood and potentially transformed. Second, I’m fascinated by extremely desired or functional processes such as extraordinary compassion, connection, community, or creativity. I want to understand what structures, policies, and communication processes help contribute to these processes.

What do you think is the most challenging/pressing/important issue related to communication right now?

Conversation and connection. Human beings are social animals and I believe that workplace flourishing is intimately tied to opportunities for spontaneous, social, and non-task-oriented interaction.

What is one quotation/favorite saying/verse that you live by?

Anything worth doing well is worth doing badly in the beginning.

What are your top three favorite books in your area of research/teaching?

• Sarah Ahmed – The Promise of Happiness 
• Bent Flybvjerg – Making Social Science Matter 
• Karl Weick – Sensemaking in Organizations

What is your favorite place in the world?

Walking Pacific Beach at low tide with my dog Lily.

One thing that students should know about you?

I unremorsefully laugh at my own jokes. And, although I have a history in improv comedy, there’s a reason I pursued academia rather than the stage.

What is your hidden talent or superpower? 

Concocting a decent meal out of a hodge-podge of leftovers. I call it being a kitchen bricoleur, and I suspect it’s a talent held by many qualitative methodologists (more here).

Oh yeah, as a middle-aged being, I can still turn a pretty mean cartwheel