Life Design Lab Staff

Matthew, a native Connecticuter (some would say “Nutmegger”), is a problem-solving creative who loves collaborative efforts, healthy competition and finding ways to support and serve others.  Having spent time as a professional musician while leading a team of marketing and communications professionals, as well as a multimedia producer while serving former NFL players in their transition to life after football, Matthew has lived and continues to love the principles of design thinking and exploring wildly varied opportunities. He has guided teams in higher education through organizational change and experienced success developing brand identities across industries.  If Matthew could tell his college-self anything, he would encourage him to pay less attention to which doors are open and which are closed down the hallway, and more to the quality and direction of the immediate next step.

Connect with Matthew on Twitter: @matthewagolden

Dr. Ashley A. Adams is a senior-level higher education administrator with a progressive record of more than 15 years of experience in providing vision, leadership, and direction in high-impact student engagement programs and services that support student retention and graduation. She most recently served as the senior director of student affairs at The Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus, where she designed, developed, and led a team of student affairs professionals across multiple functional areas including student engagement, student leadership programs, student clubs, and organizations, career services, mental health services, student conduct, and equity, inclusion, and advocacy. She is from E. St. Louis, IL, and earned her BA in Sociology from Truman State University, MA in Sociology from DePaul University, and Ph.D. from Saint Louis University.

If Ashley could tell her undergraduate self anything it would be, “Your sociology major will absolutely pay off!”

Fun Facts:

• I love watching medical & police procedural dramas.
• I’ve seen every show Dick Wolf has ever produced.
• I’m a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and through this work, I’m committed to the advancement of women in all endeavors.
• I’m a huge baseball fan. Go Cardinals!

Before joining the Life Design Lab, Kate was a program officer at the Advance Family Planning (AFP) advocacy initiative with the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH). She worked closely with partners in Francophone Africa to improve policies and funding for family planning and reproductive health. She also lived in Paris for a few years where she worked at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO’s) International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) where she supported programs in Africa and Southeast Asia aimed at expanding quality education for children, youth, and adults. While in Paris, she also worked for a Paris-based African association to address administrative and support needs for Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the area.

Kate has a Masters in Intercultural Communication with a specialization in Intercultural Training from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a BA in International Relations and French from Goucher College.

If Kate could tell her undergraduate-self anything it would be to worry less, explore more, and be open to possibilities.

Fun Facts:

Kate enjoys all things outdoors (running, hiking, walking, being) and spending time with her husband, Ryan, dog, Wade, and cat, Luna (on her terms of course). She loves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, traveling, and is learning how to garden. She also volunteers at Barcs animal shelter and Planned Parenthood.

Cohort hours: Connect with me during cohort hours for specific industry questions related to searching for jobs and internships, and exploring careers related to the Social Sciences (Economics, International Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology). Mondays, 10am-12pm, Mergenthaler 252 (International Studies suite)

**no cohort hours April 8**

Lauren has found that her life’s purpose orbits around a few central concepts: exploring the wilderness, helping others, creative expression through writing and persistent curiosity. In her role as a Life Design Educator, she has explored the broad, dynamic field of public health and all of the possibilities it holds for her students. Lauren’s background in outdoor education, counseling, emerging media and neurodiversity have helped her cultivate a unique relationship with the Public Health Studies Undergraduate Advising Program. Additionally, her highly collaborative nature drives her to pursue interesting methods of connecting people, places and ideas. If Lauren could tell her college-self anything, she’d say that the path is far from linear. In fact, a winding pathway full of unexpected insights and remarkable views makes a much more exciting adventure to take.

Current CV

An Ohio-born native of New Jersey, Heather followed her love of books to a PhD at Boston College and her first tenure-track professorship in Macon, Georgia, where she co-created a writers conference, a night-time 5k race, and a baby girl. Prior to joining the Life Design Team at Johns Hopkins, Heather was awarded tenure at two universities and taught literature, writing, and experiential learning courses for over a decade.

Her interest in human-centered design began at Stanford’s d. school, where she applied design thinking principles to tackle complex problems such as building an escape room for a tenth grade English class; investigating social isolation alongside colleagues in Palo Alto and Trinidad; and assisting doctoral students to foster supportive communities and creativity in their research. Upon returning to the University of Akron, she created curriculum and led learning experiences for populations on and off campus, from  “Design Your Life” courses for underclassmen to a pilot program for incoming freshmen to human-centered design workshops for local women leaders, graduate students, and Brazilian business professionals.

If Heather could tell her college-self anything, it would be to stay open to the possibility of surprise. My love of storytelling began in the classroom but led me to a career helping students with their lives beyond it. We are constantly learning about ourselves and our strengths as well as our weaknesses. Reach out to people who have lives and careers that intrigue you. It is never too late to try something new.

My cohort hours are Tuesdays from 11-2pm. Please email me to set up an appointment.
My weekly drop-in hours at the Imagine Center on Thursdays from 1-3pm.

Caitlin is from Bel Air, MD and moved back after being in Rhode Island for the last decade. She is an educator, strategic workforce development professional, and Life Design Educator with varied experience in higher education, healthcare, and non-profit management but her favorite role is “mom” to two little boys.

Prior to Hopkins, Caitlin served as the Education & Workforce Director with the Fort Meade Alliance where she was a liaison between executives in the technology and national defense sector and the education system to strategically develop workforce pipeline initiatives. Additionally, she has designed programs for engineering students at the University of Maryland College Park and created curricular and co-curricular experiential education programs for public health students at the University of Rhode Island. If Caitlin could tell her undergraduate-self anything, it would be that it is to be ok when things don’t go as you planned because it’s ultimately leading you to where you will go.

Caitlin’s Fun Facts:

• She earned a BA in Psychology and a MS in Human Development from the University of Rhode Island where she was also a Division 1 swimmer
• She loves to travel, camp, hike, and be by the beach
• She has travelled to 11 countries

CS/ECE COHORT HOURS: Connect with Caitlin During COHORT HOURS for specific industry questions as they relate to searching for jobs and internships, and exploring careers related to computer science and ECE.

• CS &ECE Cohort Hour – Every Tuesday between 3:00-4:00PM via Zoom
• CS & ECE Cohort Hours- Every Thursday between 3:30-4:30PM in Barton Hall Student Lounge

Sarah (she/her) serves as the Life Design Educator for students majoring in Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Civil & Systems Engineering, and Environmental Health & Engineering. She joined the Life Design Lab in September 2021 and has enjoyed supporting students as they explore their interests and pursue their passions and curiosities ever since.

As a Life Design Educator, Sarah has co-facilitated a variety of opportunities for students to build their networks and develop professional skills alongside her LDL & ILLD colleagues, including the DEI Collective, JobsForJays, Rapid Resume Reviews, alumni panels, networking events, mentorship programs, and the Tech & Entrepreneurship in the Bay Area Intersession Trek. She has also assisted various employers with on-campus recruiting efforts, and she helps students navigate and prepare for the job & internship search process.

Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY in 2014. As an undergrad, Sarah was a Resident Advisor and NCAA swimmer, and she conducted an undergraduate research thesis that explored the portrayal of female athletes in popular media and its impact on objectification behaviors within consumers who do and do not identify as athletes.

She earned her master’s degree in student affairs administration from Binghamton University in 2016 where she worked as a graduate assistant in the Dean of Students Office, interned in the Center for Civic Engagement, and conducted research about the university’s retention practices for the Division of Student Affairs. Before joining the LDL team, she worked in Residence Life at The University of Scranton and the Office of Student Engagement at Loyola University Maryland. Sarah also completed her master’s degree in emerging media from Loyola University Maryland in May 2022, where her capstone project focused on user experience and accessibility within mobile app design.

Her hobbies include reading, working out, walking around her neighborhood while listening to a podcast or audiobook, and trying new flavors of tea. Sarah is originally from upstate New York but is now proud to call Baltimore her home.

Recent Courses

Hopkins Engineering Sampler Seminar (Fall 2022, Fall 2023)

Tech & Entrepreneurship in the Bay Area (Intersession 2023)

Intro to Hopkins: Arrive & Thrive (Fall 2022)

Life Design Summer Institute (Summer 2022)

Kim is from Silver Spring, MD, went to Springbrook high school, and studied Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Illinois. She started her career working on the bench in biotech. Prior to joining the Life Design Lab, Kim worked with regional employers to create flexible, progressive opportunities for underrepresented high school and college students.

If there was one thing she could tell her undergraduate-self, it would be to take advantage of every opportunity college has to offer and never let fear of failure stop you!

When not at work, she likes to spend time at the beach.

Fun Fact:

This is my third time working at JHU! First, as a research technician at the School of Medicine. Later in the School of Medicine Human Resources department recruiting technicians for the research labs. And now at Homewood working in employer engagement!

Laura is  originally from Santiago de Compostela, a small town in Galicia, Spain and graduated with a BA in English Linguistics and Literature from Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, but completed the fourth year of the program at Gothenburg University, in Sweden. In 2021 she graduated with an M.F.A. in Illustration Practice from The Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore. In Sweden, Laura worked as a Teacher of Spanish as a Second Language and as a freelancer. In the US,  she worked as an Art Educator and as an Art Studio Manager.

If Laura could tell her undergrad/masters level self anything it would be that you are going to live in many places, meet lots of people from different backgrounds, and feel unsure at times, but you are going to enjoy the ride.

Fun Fact about Laura: She can speak four languages: Galician, Spanish, English, and Swedish!

Ciara is a bona fide Marylander who loves crab legs and judges anyone who doesn’t – including her amazing husband, whom she has traveled the world with (eight countries and counting)! Before joining JHU, Ciara facilitated workforce development training for 14 to 24-year olds. Though her previous charges were different from JHU students, the pressure they felt to succeed is similar. If Ciara could tell her college-self anything, she would say not to let fear limit you. You are braver, stronger, and more resilient than you can ever imagine.

Mike’s academic background is in urban and architectural theory, poverty and social inequality. In his spare time, he loves working on his Olympic lifting form and kettlebell routines. Before joining the Life Design Lab in fall 2019, Mike was faculty and an administrator at two liberal arts colleges in New England. He supported students interested in linking their academic pursuits with their internship goals. He is thrilled to be supporting First Year-FLI KSAS students and committed to redesigning undergraduate experiential learning via a social equity and inclusion framework. If Mike could tell his college-self anything, he would say to consider reframing aspirations and challenges, not as an individualistic and isolating experience, but as one that can be meaningfully supported by community and resources on campus and beyond.

Aiyana (she/her) is originally from Cleveland, OH and worked at Cleveland State University prior to joining Johns Hopkins University. She holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration from Eastern Michigan University and M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Northern Illinois University and she is active in many organizations, such as, NASPA, National Black MBA Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Aiyana is excited to join the LDL team and be part of an ecosystem that will support students as they navigate their collegiate journey and help students achieve their personal and professional aspirations. If there is one thing she would tell her undergraduate self, she would encourage her to take time choosing a major.

Fun Facts: Aiyana loves to play volleyball, enjoys the arts, attend concerts, play boardgames (Taboo, Bingo, Scrabble, Monopoly, etc.) travel, and is a foodie!

Marsha Lynn Hammond can be found at the intersection of design, healthcare, education and hope.

Having received an MA in Teaching and BFA in Interdisciplinary Sculpture from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Marsha brings creativity, curiosity and innovation to her work as an Educator, Designer and Entrepreneur. For over a decade Marsha served as Assistant Director of Career Development at MICA, and has held various roles prior including Director of Undergraduate Admission, Head of International Recruitment, and Adjunct Faculty.

Since 2015, Marsha has served as Founder, Creator and CEO of Mind the Current LLC, a social enterprise supporting cancer patients, hospitals and oncology professionals around the world with products and services to mentally reframe clinical treatment. Her flagship product DhremoTherapy IV Decals can be found at www.dhremo.com. (“Dream-oh” Therapy rhymes with Chemotherapy)

Her social impact work in oncology and entrepreneurship has garnered her recognition as a Warnock Social Innovation Fellow, Purdue Business School’s Shore Hatchery Top Pitch Winner, OpenWorks Enterprise Fellow and thought leader and speaker for audiences including Google Women Tech-Makers, AOL Inspire Series, Parsons School of Design and CancerCon, the largest international conference for the Adolescent and Young Adult cancer community.

If Marsha could give her undergraduate self some advice, it would be to slow down and find the joy and meaning in the present, rather than giving into fear or anxiety about the future. “Education is meant to shake you up. It is normal to feel like you are in a tousled snow globe with no clear path. With time and inner reflection, all will settle, become clear, and make sense. Enjoy the magic!”

Fun Facts:

Having grown up surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Marsha has a love of the outdoor sports – hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, kayaking and paddleboarding, to name a few. She spends much of her spare time outdoors with her adventure-loving partner and the 3 teen boys they have between them.

Marsha loves to explore new cultures and communities and has traveled to 49 states and 19 countries.

Emily is a native Upstate New Yorker, an outdoor enthusiast, and an animal lover with three rescues of her own. As a JHU alum, she understands firsthand how challenging and busy a Hopkins undergrad career can be, but promises you that time spent on Life Design is not wasted time. Emily has worked at JHU in the career services and life design space for the past 7 years, and currently serves as the lead for employers, alums, and hiring partners in the finance and consulting industries.

Kara Hunter (she/her) is dedicated collegiate student development, and it is evident in her almost a decade of experience in the field. While her path to the Life Design Lab was not linear, it most definitely has given her a unique perspective on Life Design and augments the importance of staying curious and trying new things. Kara spends time fostering relationships with employers and providing opportunities for students to build their professional networks.

Kara has spent time all over the East Coast, but now calls Baltimore home. Prior to accepting a position with Integrated Learning and Life Design in January 2022, Kara most recently served as the Assistant Director of Competitive Sports at Loyola University Maryland. During her tenure at Loyola, she oversaw 28 club sports teams with over 500 student athletes, as well as a robust intramural sports program that served over 1800 students. In addition, Kara served as an instructor for a first-year seminar course from 2019-2022. She also spent two years at NC State University as a Resident Director for Upperclassman and Graduate Housing, managing a staff of 20 Resident Assistants and over 1100 residents.

Kara’s educational career has mirrored her professional career, most recently with a Master of Business Administration, ‘21 from Loyola University Maryland. Prior to moving to the Mid-Atlantic, she pursued a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration, ’17 from NC State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science studying Counseling Psychology, ‘15 from The Ohio State University.

Most recently, Kara’s teaching and programming has focused on transitioning skills from the classroom to industry. She serves as a Co-Director for the Your Turn to Intern (YTTI) program, helping students navigate their internship search through monthly workshops covering topics that range from identifying one’s values in an internship experience to interviewing and negotiating salaries to getting the most out of one’s summer internship. She has also taught two Intersession Courses that help students understand their strengths and transitioning them professional careers.

Outside of her professional career at Hopkins, Kara is a big sports fanatic and loves to travel around the country visiting various professional sports venues. She is also committed to traveling somewhere new every year and is looking forward to crossing more destinations off her list in the coming years.

Recent Courses:

It’s not too late to secure a Summer Internship (Intersession 2023)

Careers in Biotech and Medical Device Course and Trek (Intersession 2023)

Networking Resources

OneHop

Industry-Specific Employers

Engineering and Manufacturing Careers 

Biotech, Medical Device, and Pharmaceuticals Careers 

Aerospace and Automotive Careers

Oil, Gas, and Renewable Energy Careers

Industry Internships

Lemoine (pronounced either as “ler-mwan” or “leh-moyne”…just not “leh-muhn”) Joseph, Jr. (He, Him, His) has worked as a dedicated education professional since 2016. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-medical track, Lemoine worked as a Teaching Apprentice with Blue Engine – an educational non-profit in New York City. Following that experience, he attained a Master’s Degree in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout his career in higher education, Lemoine has worked as a Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention Specialist at Michigan State University and as an Assistant Director at Loyola University Maryland’s Center for Community, Service, and Justice.

Lemoine is excited to be a part of the Life Design Lab team because of the potential to help align students’ career and vocational endeavors to their core values and principles in that can strengthen or redefine their visions of their future lives.  Outside of the Life Design Lab, Lemoine enjoys running annoyingly long distances, (hot) yoga, graphic novels, cafe hopping (Red Emma’s is a MUST), spending FAR too much time in his kitchen, collecting vinyl records, going to farmer’s markets (especially the 32nd Street Farmer’s Market), matinee movie screenings at the Senator or Charles Theaters, and generally exploring Baltimore.

Fun Fact: If you give him 1-2 hours, Lemoine could probably name all 679 contestants that have appeared on the tv show Survivor (U.S. edition only).

Career & Internship Opportunities:

• Careers
  • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Careers
  • Material Sciences and Engineering Careers
  • Mechanical Engineering Careers
• Internships
  • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Internships
  • Material Sciences and Engineering Internships
  • Mechanical Engineering Internships

Resources for Networking and Building Connections:

• OneHop Mentoring
• ForagerOne

Resources for Skill Building & Development

• Coursera
• LinkedIn Learning

Spring 2024 Drop-In Hour Schedule

• ChemBE, MatSci & MechE Cohort Drop-In Hours (Latrobe Hall, Room 106): Wednesdays, 1 – 3 PM
• Imagine Center Drop-In Hours: Mondays, 1 -5 PM

Yasir (He/Him) is originally from Turkey. He lived in San Antonio, Texas for about 10 years and received his master’s and doctoral degrees there respectively from The University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Mary’s University. Then, he started his professional career services journey at Texas A&M University San Antonio. After working 2 years at A&M, he joined Purdue University-Krannert School of Management (Krannert Professional Development Center). At Purdue, he was an Associate Director of Graduate Programs between August 2021-2022. He is excited to help students embrace their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and use the LD/DT  concepts in their lives and decisions. If Yasir could tell his university-self anything it would be to go and seek for great mentors to guide you in your journey!

In his spare time, Yasir likes to go to parks, trails, and playgrounds with his family as much as possible and enjoys reading books and playing table tennis.

Fun fact: Yasir  started learning English at the age of 26 after moving to the States!

Current CV

Justin Lorts is an historian, teacher, university administrator, and Life Design Educator with over 20 years of experience in higher education. He is currently the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education at the Johns Hopkins University Life Design Lab. In this role, he works with educators across Hopkins to support undergraduate students in their career and life pursuits and connect them to alumni, employers, and experiential learning opportunities. 

Prior to joining Hopkins, Justin worked in several roles in academic affairs and advising at The Gallatin School of Individualized Study and the College of Arts and Science at New York University and at Princeton University, where he served as the Director of Studies at Whitman College. He has directed and designed programs and initiatives to educate and support students from pre-college through doctoral study. He has extensive experience working with first-generation and limited income (FLI) college students, including serving as program adviser to NYU’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program and as a member of Princeton’s Presidential Working Group on Undergraduate Socioeconomic Diversity. 

Justin earned a BA in History from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. His academic training was focused in the areas of African American History and 20th Century United States Political and Cultural History.  His dissertation, Black Laugher / Black Protest: civil rights, respectability, and the cultural politics of African American comedy, 1934-1968 explores the relationship between comedy and the modern civil rights movement. He has taught courses on race, popular culture, and civil rights at Rutgers, New York, and Princeton University, and was an NEH Fellow at Harvard University’s W.E.B. DuBois Research Institute in 2008.  

More recently, Justin’s teaching and research activities have focused on design thinking, career pathways in the humanities, and the relationship between Life Design and a liberal arts education. As a past participant of the Stanford Life Design Studio and a Life Design Ambassador for Johns Hopkins, he regularly leads Life Design workshops and training for students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. He teaches career and Life Design courses at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown University and has delivered talks and workshops for institutions and organizations including Rutgers University, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium.  You can see more of his work on design thinking and higher education on his website, Education*Designed.  

Justin is a proud resident of Charles Village, where he lives with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he enjoys learning about and making coffee, serving as a leader for the local Cub Scout Pack, and exploring the city.  

RECENT COURSES: 

Finding Your “Why” in Medicine (Intersession 2021) 

Intro to Hopkins: Arrive and Thrive (Fall 2020 and 2021) 

SELECT WRITINGS: 

Performing a Premortem on Your Current Life Path 

Six Benefits of Using Miro in the Classroom (and One Drawback) 

How PhDs Can Use Life Design to Build a Fulfilling Life and Career (Part I) 

“Hollywood, the NAACP, and the Cultural Politics of the Early Civil Rights Movement” in Danielle McGuire and John Dittmer, eds., Freedom Rights: New Perspectives on the Civil Rights Movement (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2011):  39-69. 

SELECT RESOURCES: 

Life Design Resources for Students Interested in Graduate School (esp. in the Humanities) 

Karen is obsessed with all things pop culture and, as a proud Buffalonian, is a big fan of sponge candy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theater and has earned a Master’s degree in Emerging Media, which she has cultivated an eclectic and diverse professional background.

Her journey into higher education revealed her true calling – a passion for energizing students by providing them with the essential networks, tools, and confidence needed to navigate their own life paths. If Karen had the chance to offer advice to her college-era self, she would encourage herself to absorb knowledge from every source, engage in a wide range of activities, converse with a variety of people, and embrace new experiences. She firmly believes that each aspect of this life journey contributes significantly to personal growth and development.

Dr. Mason is the Life Design Educator for the Humanities Department. He is a practicing artist that has earned a BA in film from Howard University, MFA in photography from SCAD and an Ed.D. in art education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to coming to Hopkins, Eric taught digital photography (intro and advanced), digital media courses and managed a maker space. His varied career path gives him a broad perspective. He looks forward to working with humanities students and providing them with tools to explore their respective experiences and design a path that fits them.

Tessa, a proud Pittsburgher at heart, can likely be found in a local coffee shop, knitting, reading and connecting with new friends regarding topics including wellness, social justice and faith. She is a strong proponent of Life Design because she loves to speak with people about life as a non-linear journey. Fortunate to have gotten her start in refugee resettlement with AmeriCorps, Tessa has worked in immigrant advocacy and nonprofit capacity building. She has ultimately channeled those skills into empowering the change-makers of tomorrow. If Tessa could tell her college-self anything, she would say don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There’s no syllabus to life, so try things out and trust that your mess, will be a big part of the message you share with the world. Also, date Tim McKenzie when he asks you out the first time.

Stacey is a first-generation scholar-educator who is originally from Central New York. She holds a BA in Spanish and Adolescent Education from St. John Fisher College, an MA in Spanish from Middlebury College, as well as an MA and a PhD in Spanish from Penn State University. Over the past decade, she has taught a variety of college courses in Spanish language, Hispanic culture, and world literature – both at home (PA, VA, MD) and abroad (Spain) – while also publishing original scholarship on topics in modern Spanish literature and art. Most recently, she was a faculty member at Loyola University Maryland, where she taught courses in Spanish and Topics in Intercultural Communication, while serving as an academic advisor for first-year students. Stacey is thrilled to be joining the Life Design Lab at Hopkins and looks forward to supporting students with international perspectives – international students and those engaging in study abroad – as they explore all of life’s possibilities and envision their future selves. She admires the LDL’s dedication to helping students make important life decisions where the personal, the professional, and the academic are all inextricably linked.

Stacey’s fun facts: 

She enjoys classic video games — playing them and studying their lore!

Stacey enjoys reading and drawing, she likes sports (go Bills!!) and games, and she loves traveling. In fact, she has studied, taught, and researched at different points in her life in Spain (Salamanca, Madrid, Granada, Ronda), Argentina (Buenos Aires), and the UK (Oxford).

Chris was born and raised in Southeast Missouri, and now resides in Missouri’s State Capitol, Jefferson City.  He attended Seminary in Springfield, Missouri and completed internship at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PEPC). Then, in 2015, Chris shifted focus from Theological studies to Managing Technology in Primary and Secondary Education. Most recently, Chris championed the use of Integrated Technology for Business within a Business platforms, combining AI components to produce accurate methods of reporting for stakeholders; helping them tell a story of where they started vs where they are going. He is very excited to be joining the LDL team and help continue to positively impact students.

If Chris could tell his undergrad self anything, it would be not to focus so much on the destination, that you neglect to learn from the journey. The destination changes; the journey will change you.

Fun facts about Chris:

• Avid College Football Enthusiast.
• Nominated for the Parent Advisory Council for Central Missouri Autism Project by the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
• He has 5 kids and his daily driver is a kid hauling 12 passenger Transit Van.

Keisha was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She is a wife and mother of 2 daughters. Keisha joined the JHU family in 2007 and has been a part of 4 different departments which include The Wilmer Eye Institute, IGTC, Student Housing, and now the Life Design Lab.

Outside of work, Keisha is also the owner of “Keisha’s Krafty Kreations.” She is an avid crafter and loves to create through a wide variety of services including graphic design, sign making, apparel decorating, laser engraving, and lots more! If she could her undergrad-self anything, it would be to stay focused through all the derailments of life.

Amailie is a proud Puerto Rican woman who is passionate about people and communities and committed to helping support student decisions through informed resources, arts, and health. Through her academic background at the University of Puerto Rico, she has a bachelor’s degree in Preschool Education from the Rio Piedras Campus and a master’s degree in Public Health Education from the Medical Sciences Campus. Now in her doctoral studies, Amailie is acquiring a Doctor of Public Health major at Walden University. Previously, she worked with developing and managing educational efforts on research-based projects on pregnant women’s chemical exposures (funded by NIEHS) and community health promoters (funded by CDC and Medtronic Foundation) on her island. 

If Amailie could tell her undergraduate self it would be to get out of your comfort zone, be consistent, maintain your values, and be open to having adventures that will get you to what life has planned for you. 

When not linking students to opportunities and helping them thrive, Amailie loves spending time with family, exploring nature, salsa dancing, going to the gym, and engaging in community work.

Where can we meet?:

@ Imagine Center: Tuesdays 1:00-3:00 PM & Thursdays 3:00-5:00 PM

@ Virtual: Wednesdays 11:00 AM-2:00 PM & Fridays 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

*Open to do workshops or meet with student groups: Fridays 1:00-4:00 PM

Mark grew up near Binghamton, NY and earned his BS English & Psychology at Ball State University. He then earning his MS Employment Counseling at SUNY Oswego. Prior to joining JHU, Mark has worked at Ohio University (Residence Life), Cornell University (Director Engineering Career Services Office), Gettysburg College (Marketing – Career Center), and the College of Southern Maryland (Academic/Career Affairs). He is always excited and energized for the opportunity to connect with and impact engineering students.

If Mark could tell his university-self anything, it would be that career paths are a squiggly line and experience / happenstance can dramatically change your career trajectory.

Mark Fun Facts:

Walk 7 miles 3x/week; Attend plays, musicals and concerts; travel; writing

Toured Europe 3 weeks with high school choir and performed at famous cathedrals, including Notre Dame in Paris and Koln Dom in Cologne.

Ashley Schantz is teacher, university administrator, and Life Design Educator with over a decade of experience in mental health and higher education. She is currently a Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education at the Johns Hopkins University Life Design Lab. In this capacity, she works with educators to support students studying Brain Sciences & Environmental Sciences in their professional, academic, and life pursuits, connecting them with alumni, employers, and experiential opportunities.

Prior to her work in Life Design, Ashley served as the Assistant Director of Transition and Discernment Programs at Loyola University Maryland, where she constructed meaningful engagement opportunities for students to developed more self-actualized life pathways and foster a sense of belonging amongst a diverse population. She has directed co-curricular learning programs and initiatives designed to encourage students to capitalize on and make meaning of their academic pursuits for students throughout each undergraduate transition, including directing orientation and peer mentor initiatives at the University of Saint Francis and the Life After Loyola docuseries for graduating seniors.

Ashley earned a BA in Psychology from Bowling Green State University, a MS in Clinical Psychology from the University of Dayton, and a MA in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. Her combined academic training centers in personal development and self-authorship. Her master’s thesis, Betrayal characteristics and self-forgiveness: The mediating and moderating roles of social-cognitive variables, examined the impact of self-empathy, rumination, and attributions on one’s ability to self-forgive across various transgression severity levels and relational dynamics. She has taught courses on topics related to the college transition, senior seminars, and positive psychology.

More recently, Ashley’s teaching and programming have focused on Life/Design Thinking, career pathways in psychology, brain sciences, & environmental sciences, and the intersection of discernment practices to promote self-actualization and the self-authored life design.

Ashley is an outdoor enthusiast with a hunger to learn strategies to live in better harmony with the earth and our communities. She is a new student to meditation and somatic mindfulness practices.

Recent Courses:

Life Design Summer Institute (Summer 2022)

Intro to Hopkins: Arrive & Thrive (Fall 2022)

Environmental Science Senior Seminar (Fall 2022)

Networking Resources

Authentic Introduction Guide

Guide to Curiosity Conversations

Brain Science Resources

Neuroscience Employers & American Neurological Association Career Center

Psychology Employers & American Psychological Association Career Guide

Cognitive Science Employers

Environmental Science Resources

Environmental Students Employers

Earth Science Employers

National Association of Environmental Professionals Career Center

Clifton (he/him) is a Black, cis-man that is spiritual, queer, and a first-gen, limited-income (FLI) college graduate raised as a proud East coaster. He attended 13 different schools in 5 states and the District of Columbia, spending most of his years in New Jersey. Clifton enjoys playing card and board games (especially spades), singing at church, and finding spots in Baltimore to sit and relax.

Clifton looks forward to helping students think about their identities and how they shape their life’s journey. After 5 years of helping student organization leaders here at Hopkins, he felt this role complimented his interest in giving back to some of his previous experience building affinity space for men of color while mentoring and advising students of varying identity groups. Clifton loves to discuss how all of your identities impact your life experience. If Clifton could tell his college self anything, he’d say be bold, be curious, and be you to the fullest.

Leading with curiosity and connection to create my best life.

GET TO KNOW ME:

• Areas of belonging you love thinking about?: I love helping folks think about who we are (identities, values, morals, and beliefs,) are assets in our life journey.
• Why did you join the Life Design Lab in 6 words or less?: I love the opportunity to have transformational experiences for myself and with students.
• What strong opinion do you have about something that others may differ from?: Pineapple definitely does go on pizza!

GET COACHING FROM CLIFTON

Virtual MOTIVATIONAL MONDAYS:

Get Motivated with LDE Clifton and a surprise. Sign up Today. We will just hear where students are and provide any reframe or motivation we can in the moment.

Some inspirational moments as a YouTube short.

CLIFTON’S COHORT HOURS – Tuesdays 3:30-5 pm

You can connect with Clifton during his Cohort Hours in the Homewood Apartments in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Suite 100! No Appointment is necessary or required.

Virtual SENIOR FRIDAYS

Sign up Today for March Senior Friday Chats.

MY STRENGTHS:

Woo | Achiever | Futuristic | Communication | Belief

Clifton is someone who will do what he can to connect with others to ensure he can feel a sense of community to work towards his and/or the individuals’ goals based on his beliefs and experiences. He will ensure that he is doing something that can be accomplished while imagining the possibilities.

RESOURCES:

• What is Life Design from Clifton’s Perspective – Interview about the Life Design Lab
• A first-gen story – Learn more about Clifton’s first-generation, limited-income college journey in his book chapter or in an interview (video) with the JHU FLI Network.
• Embrace Your Story – Engage in an asynchronous experience that helps you think about how you can Embrace Your Story. Sign up: https://forms.office.com/r/K8zTuy7gMW 
• #Design4Excellence on Handshake or #Design4Excellence in this blog post.
• Other SOAR team members to explore your co-curricular and identity-based life interests: Aiyana Hamilton, Andrea Wiseman, Antonio Boone, Chloe Terrell, Clifton E. Shambry Jr., and Dr. Stacey Mitchell, lead by our Sr. Director Dr. Ashley A. Adams.
  • More on SOAR: The Life Design Lab’s SOAR team is a department focusing on inclusion and equitable access to opportunities for students from underrepresented communities, including first-generation, low-income, multicultural, LGBTQ, and international students. Educators who work for SOAR—short for Seizing Opportunities, Access, and Relationships—will be embedded in co-curricular and student life offices on the Homewood campus, including athletics, FLI Network, first-year experience, student engagement, cohort programs, and diversity & inclusion.

Chloe (she/her) was born in Southern California and grew up in North Texas. She did her undergrad at Texas Woman’s University where she majored in Psychology, and completed her Master’s in Higher Education, Student Affairs at the University of North Texas. She moved to Maryland in 2018 to start her career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as the Transfer Student Success Coordinator where she created a mentor program for new transfer students.

Chloe is an avid runner, and has done a handful of half-marathons. She is also in A Tribe Called Run, a Baltimore-based run club. She loves hiking with her corgi, Ramsay, travelling, and exploring the East Coast. If Chloe could tell her undergraduate-self anything it would be that grasping the material and really learning it is more important than getting straight A’s. She is very excited to help students along their own life paths.

Fun Facts: Chloe is a part-time Trivia Host, has 12 tattoos and is a BIG Taylor Swift fan (#Swifties)

Hailing from Elkhart, Indiana, Sonjala loves bringing people together, water aerobics, and her friendly poodle, Midnight! Sonjala works to connect students to opportunities that enhance and broaden their skills. She also works with employers to help connect them to the top notch talent at JHU! Sonjala’s path has been a lesson itself in Life Design and she loves being able to combine all the skills and experiences she gathered to help others find their life’s purpose!

Sonjala holds a M.S from Indiana State University in Student Affairs and Higher Education and a B.A. from Purdue University in Sociology with a teaching certification in Secondary Sociology, Psychology and History. Prior to coming to Johns Hopkins, Sonjala served as an Assistant director in the Career and Professional Development Center at Carnegie Mellon for 15 years. Before CMU, she worked as an Assistant Director in the Career Center at Indiana State. If Sonjala could tell her college-self anything, she would say to invest in yourself. Keep your eyes open, be curious, take risks, explore and experience life!

Keira (she/her) grew up in the Pennsylvania mountain town of Bellefonte, home to many governors and a spring that feeds the entire community. She attended Guilford College and later the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, where the city and its residents taught her the value of historical context and understanding where you are. You can often find her volunteering with community-led organizations connecting folks with their environment through free gardens, biking, and outdoor activities. As a celebration enthusiast, she love parades and holds memberships in community-based parades groups such as the Vaudevillians New Years Brigade and the Krewe of Red Beans hailing from New Orleans.

Find Me! Public Health Cohort Hours:

Tues 11-1PM at the PHS Building – 505 North Charles

Recommended Resources:

Designing Your Gap Year in 4 Easy Steps

Gap to Growth Guide (JHU) – Planning Your Gap Year

How to Get an Awesome Recommendation

Recent Courses:

Designing for Global Change (Intersession 2024)

Life Design Summer Institute (Summer 2022, 2023)

Intro to Hopkins: Arrive & Thrive (Fall 2022, 2023)

Becoming Your Biggest Changemaker- Developing a Socially Conscious Career in Science (Intersession 2022)

Find Me On the Internet:

Good Work with Keira (website)

5 Unexpected Skills Volunteer Service Adds to Your Career

Transformative Return for Communities (Quaker)

My Office Hours for first-year students are:                                                                                                                            Mondays from 11am-1pm in the AMR I Reading Room (in addition to Imagine Center drop-in hours Tuesdays 3-5pm and Wednesdays 1-3pm)

Andrea has completed 3 marathons and a half-Ironman, knows all the free/cheap activities in Baltimore with tiny humans, has traveled to 30 states and 30 countries, is a Boston sports fan and is a first year host parent to a high school student from Germany.

Andrea has worked for Semester at Sea, taught English abroad and has worked with college students since 2002. Andrea has spent the last 13 years working with Hopkins freshmen and student leaders in leadership development, project management, communication skills and life decision-making. She is excited to continue challenging students to use their skills, experiences and interests to pursue their dreams.

If Andrea could tell her college-self anything, she would say to think outside the box and don’t do only what you were told you “should” be doing.