Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 4 with Dr. Natasha Jones

For Dr. Natasha Jones, as for so many of us – life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. As a scholar, author, and as Associate Professor of Technical Communications at Michigan State University, Dr. Jones has had to learn how to turn lemons into lemonade and create a future in which she not only thrives but for those following in her footsteps. In this episode, we explore her Southern roots growing up in a conservative religious home, what it was like to navigate entering the workforce while embracing unexpected single-motherhood, and ultimately how's she found her power as a woman of color in the challenging world of higher education.

• Why being comfortable and playing it safe doesn’t always lead to the happiness that you are seeking
• The power of saying no as a form of self-care, even when it’s something you really want to do
• The importance of cultivating mentor relationships, and also when to let go

About Dr. Natasha N. Jones

Dr. Natasha N. Jones is an Associate Professor of Technical Communications at Michigan State University, a technical communication scholar and co-author of the book "Technical Communication after the Social Justice Turn: Building Coalitions for Action" (winner of the 2021 CCCC Best Book in Technical or Scientific Communication). Her research interests include social justice, narrative, and technical communication pedagogy. She holds herself especially accountable to Black women and femmes and systemically marginalized communities. She strives to always center the narratives and experiences of those at the margins in her scholarship. Her work has been published in several journals including, Technical Communication Quarterly, the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, and the Journal of Business and Technical Communication. She has received national recognition for her work, being awarded the CCCC Best Article in Technical and Scientific Communication (2020, 2018, and 2014) and the Nell Ann Pickett Award (2017). She currently serves as the President for the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW). Outside of her academic work, she finds joy in poetry, yoga, plants and all things horror/sci-fi. Follow her on Twitter @natashaania