Sarah Rose Cavanagh
@sarosecav.bsky.social
Psychologist. Sr Assoc Director Teaching & Learning @simmonsuniversity.bsky.social. Author of SPARK OF LEARNING, HIVEMIND, & MIND OVER MONSTERS
Writes about emotions, teaching, brains. Enjoys speculative fiction, Halloween, and the sea. sarahrosecav.com
Writes about emotions, teaching, brains. Enjoys speculative fiction, Halloween, and the sea. sarahrosecav.com
Pinned
Welcome new skeeters to the blue blue sky!
I'm a psychologist studying emotions, learning, equity, & mental health in higher education; a writer of creative nonfiction; a thespian (president of a high school drama society); and love brains, dogs, Halloween, and the natural world.
I'm a psychologist studying emotions, learning, equity, & mental health in higher education; a writer of creative nonfiction; a thespian (president of a high school drama society); and love brains, dogs, Halloween, and the natural world.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Federal judge has ordered the release of Liam Ramos (the bunny hat boy) and his father. A brief and rather remarkable order. Clearly written to be shared widely, so please do. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Federal judge has ordered the release of Liam Ramos (the bunny hat boy) and his father. A brief and rather remarkable order. Clearly written to be shared widely, so please do. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January newsletter by me
A new meta-analysis on faculty-student relationships & student success, critical analysis of motivational theories, a new essay on faculty renewal, & some thoughts on why my entire brain has been taken over by a television show.
newsletter.sarahrosecav.com/a-few-warm-t...
A new meta-analysis on faculty-student relationships & student success, critical analysis of motivational theories, a new essay on faculty renewal, & some thoughts on why my entire brain has been taken over by a television show.
newsletter.sarahrosecav.com/a-few-warm-t...
A Few Warm Thoughts for a Cold Month
This January has been long and snowy and busy here in New England – but I am sticking with my goal of posting monthly and so here are just a few warm thoughts on the last day of a cold month.
I have ...
newsletter.sarahrosecav.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:21 PM
January newsletter by me
A new meta-analysis on faculty-student relationships & student success, critical analysis of motivational theories, a new essay on faculty renewal, & some thoughts on why my entire brain has been taken over by a television show.
newsletter.sarahrosecav.com/a-few-warm-t...
A new meta-analysis on faculty-student relationships & student success, critical analysis of motivational theories, a new essay on faculty renewal, & some thoughts on why my entire brain has been taken over by a television show.
newsletter.sarahrosecav.com/a-few-warm-t...
Another: "My mom has a a bush that smells like rotting flesh, so I'm not sure that plants are never gross"
Cracking my own self up re-reading some of these interviews.
"I'm not a biologist, so I love hearing about all the different plants and animals people study. It's just cool to me because I just studied humans, mostly undergraduates. They're not as cool as lampreys."
"I'm not a biologist, so I love hearing about all the different plants and animals people study. It's just cool to me because I just studied humans, mostly undergraduates. They're not as cool as lampreys."
Cats aren’t great mixes with qualitative coding
January 31, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Another: "My mom has a a bush that smells like rotting flesh, so I'm not sure that plants are never gross"
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
It's Friday night.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
January 30, 2026 at 11:05 PM
It's Friday night.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
It's hard to grasp how large this grouper is until you see it in comparison to the ship's toilet on the left.
This appears to be an Atlantic goliath grouper or 'itajara' (Epinephelus itajara). They can reach 800 lbs (350 kg) & 8 feet long (2.5 m)
Let's talk about these gentle giants.
This appears to be an Atlantic goliath grouper or 'itajara' (Epinephelus itajara). They can reach 800 lbs (350 kg) & 8 feet long (2.5 m)
Let's talk about these gentle giants.
January 30, 2026 at 4:25 PM
It's hard to grasp how large this grouper is until you see it in comparison to the ship's toilet on the left.
This appears to be an Atlantic goliath grouper or 'itajara' (Epinephelus itajara). They can reach 800 lbs (350 kg) & 8 feet long (2.5 m)
Let's talk about these gentle giants.
This appears to be an Atlantic goliath grouper or 'itajara' (Epinephelus itajara). They can reach 800 lbs (350 kg) & 8 feet long (2.5 m)
Let's talk about these gentle giants.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.
January 25, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.
Sure is snowing. Tried to walk the pups but they kept having to stop and shake off every few feet because it was accumulating so quickly on their little backs.
January 25, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Sure is snowing. Tried to walk the pups but they kept having to stop and shake off every few feet because it was accumulating so quickly on their little backs.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Minnesota is the best of us.
January 23, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Minnesota is the best of us.
Really enjoyed this conversation with Christopher Richmann about supporting student motivation, learning, and well-being with both empathetic, relationship-focused compassion and intellectual challenge.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Compassionate Challenge with Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Podcast Episode · Professors Talk Pedagogy · 01/22/2026 · 35m
podcasts.apple.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Really enjoyed this conversation with Christopher Richmann about supporting student motivation, learning, and well-being with both empathetic, relationship-focused compassion and intellectual challenge.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
My local bookshop understands their audience.
January 22, 2026 at 4:13 PM
My local bookshop understands their audience.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
‘SINNERS’ has broken history as the MOST-NOMINATED FILM OF ALL TIME at the Oscars with 16 nominations
See the full nominees list: bit.ly/OscarNoms26
See the full nominees list: bit.ly/OscarNoms26
January 22, 2026 at 1:53 PM
‘SINNERS’ has broken history as the MOST-NOMINATED FILM OF ALL TIME at the Oscars with 16 nominations
See the full nominees list: bit.ly/OscarNoms26
See the full nominees list: bit.ly/OscarNoms26
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
This is brilliant.
January 21, 2026 at 9:30 PM
This is brilliant.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
In Advice | Four key ingredients to promote faculty renewal in a time of depletion for higher education.
https://chroni.cl/49KetJw
https://chroni.cl/49KetJw
Advice | Feeling Depleted? A Guide to Faculty Renewal
How to reconnect with purpose to what brought you into this profession.
www.chronicle.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:16 PM
In Advice | Four key ingredients to promote faculty renewal in a time of depletion for higher education.
https://chroni.cl/49KetJw
https://chroni.cl/49KetJw
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
“A poem … is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth.”
This is so wonderful www.themarginalian.org/2017/03/24/t...
This is so wonderful www.themarginalian.org/2017/03/24/t...
January 15, 2026 at 3:24 AM
“A poem … is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth.”
This is so wonderful www.themarginalian.org/2017/03/24/t...
This is so wonderful www.themarginalian.org/2017/03/24/t...
Double, double toil and trouble… what’s brewing here? Fun evening with @retrievelearn.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Double, double toil and trouble… what’s brewing here? Fun evening with @retrievelearn.bsky.social
I wrote this guide to engaging teaching a few years ago but we spruce it up now and then - this edition has updated links to work of @sarahesilverman.bsky.social @drtolunoah.bsky.social & others and addressed what I felt was some ableist advice from 2019-Sarah!
We, and the field, evolve.
We, and the field, evolve.
To have any hope of learning the material, students need to involve themselves in your course. Here's how to get them engaged: https://chroni.cl/45MlVlS
How to Make Your Teaching More Engaging
Stimulate your students’ curiosity — and help them learn — using the tried-and-true techniques in this comprehensive guide.
www.chronicle.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I wrote this guide to engaging teaching a few years ago but we spruce it up now and then - this edition has updated links to work of @sarahesilverman.bsky.social @drtolunoah.bsky.social & others and addressed what I felt was some ableist advice from 2019-Sarah!
We, and the field, evolve.
We, and the field, evolve.
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
i’ve made banana bread twice since i impulse purchased this wildflower patterned loaf pan and i can say it was not a mistake. this sparks joy. look at my cheerful loaf. can’t be sad looking at a loaf like that.
January 12, 2026 at 8:27 PM
i’ve made banana bread twice since i impulse purchased this wildflower patterned loaf pan and i can say it was not a mistake. this sparks joy. look at my cheerful loaf. can’t be sad looking at a loaf like that.
What is even happening here www.vulture.com/article/just...
Gluttons for Punishment
Justin McDaniel has developed a cult following for getting his students to read — as long as they follow his rules.
www.vulture.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:26 PM
What is even happening here www.vulture.com/article/just...
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
This bobtail squid burrowing into the sand is already adorable, but please watch till the very end!
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
January 12, 2026 at 12:03 PM
This bobtail squid burrowing into the sand is already adorable, but please watch till the very end!
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
Reposted by Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Stupid idea that has been plaguing me all weekend
January 12, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Stupid idea that has been plaguing me all weekend