Michelle Rivers
She/Her | They/Them
I am queer and I am a cognitive psychologist and science communicator.//
I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at Texas Christian University, where I conduct research on student learning and teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in Psychology. In my research, I apply theories of learning and memory to enhance educational practice. I am particularly interested in investigating how learners understand and manage their own learning – both in college and across the lifespan. I earned my BA from University of California, Santa Cruz, and my MA and PhD from Kent State University.
I am passionate about science communication and outreach. I founded a blog (cogbites.org) where early-career scientists work together to translate research about the study of mental processes to the general public.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy listening to music & podcasts, spending time in nature, and figure skating!
In my work as an educator, I am comfortable sharing my own experiences as a queer academic, which has made me familiar with the challenging, at times isolating, experience of navigating a system that prioritizes the dominant culture. I share these experiences not only to implicitly affirm the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students, but also because knowing that their instructors are a diverse crowd is valuable for students, many of whom may have never been given the opportunity to talk openly or learn about the everyday challenges that gender and sexual minorities (and other marginalized groups) face. Science is for everyone.
Thanks for reading!