Themes of self-authorship are commonly in the educational
literature. “Twenty-first-century learning outcomes require self-authorship:
the internal capacity to define one’s belief system, identity, and
relationships” (Baxter Magolda, 2001b; Kegan, 1994). Our story of our own
greatness within may help us achieve the kind of transformational thinking we
need to lead well in all of our roles of responsibility. Participants will be invited to
answer some questions to help them tap into their competent old self as I use
personal examples/examples of others to help flush out their own stories. What
had you believed about the world back then that made you feel happy? Has this
changed? Identity Labels! Looking back, how did you identify yourself? How do
you identify yourself now? Defining relationships—Relationship with Self will
be our prime focus Are you investing in yourself what is needed for you to
thrive?
These questions are relevant for
the challenges all women face. Through storytelling of self, women can zero in
on our own sense of power, wonder, and strength.
Lisa Kay (Betczynski) Miller received her Bachelor of Science degree in Media Studies (with a minor in Women's Studies) and a Master of Science in Advertising from the College of Communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, later achieving a Bachelor of Education degree in English from St. Ambrose University along with Illinois state certification to teach grades 6-12. A seasoned educator, Lisa has taught primarily communications-related courses such as English Composition I and II, Media and Society, and Public Speaking both online and on-ground at public and private institutions in higher education as well as at the secondary level. At Ashford University since 2009 in various capacities beginning as an Instructional Specialist in Clinton, Iowa, she has been teaching at AU since 2010, currently as associate faculty in DoGE, facilitating Personal Dimensions of Education, Orientation, and Digital Literacy for Life and the Workplace courses. Being an environmentally conscious and concerned mother of an asthmatic daughter led Lisa to train with Al Gore in 2013 in the Climate Reality Leadership Corps., most recently taking her first step to become an Illinois Solar Energy Association Solar Ambassador by committing to host her home--equipped this past January with a rooftop 9.975 kW, 35 solar panel array--for this year's solar tour in October. Living in the state capitol of IL, when she's not teaching and nurturing students forward, you can find Lisa marching for clean energy jobs or for women's equality with her faith community network UUANI, or working to grow her leadership skills for effective advocacy, or trying to nurture her spirit as she gardens, co-parents, and beautifies her environment to help integrate and balance the grief of loss in her life story of the human condition.
