I have spent my career working at the intersection of education, nonprofit leadership, public administration, and writing. Much of my professional life has focused on helping people and organizations understand how they grow, adapt, and find their voice.

I have taught at Bridgewater State University since 2006, with courses in public and nonprofit management, American government, state and local government, and civic engagement. Over the years, I have also worked in program leadership, consulting, fundraising, and nonprofit management. My experience includes serving as Program Director for the Massachusetts Certified Public Manager Program, Director of Development for the Chorus of Westerly, and Executive Director of Opening Doors for Westerly’s Children.

Research has also been an important part of my work. My interests include nonprofit organizations, resilience, sustainability, citizen engagement, organizational behavior, and voice. I have presented at national and international conferences and published work in outlets including Public Administration Review, Administrative Theory & Praxis, Public Manager, The Bridgewater Review, and PA Times.

More recently, I have expanded my work into creative writing and independent publishing. In 2024, I founded The Black Crow Publishing, an organization focused on exploring diverse independent literary work and supporting women’s voices. In 2025, I published A Woman Remembers (everything) under my pen name, J. Byrd.

Across all of these roles, I remain interested in change, creativity, learning, and the ways people make meaning from their experiences. Whether I am teaching, writing, researching, or building something new, I am drawn to work that encourages reflection, connection, and the confidence to speak with an authentic voice.