United States
I'm a developmental psychologist and professor at Middlebury College. I've spent 20+ years studying how adolescents learn, develop, and grow. That work now shapes how I help K-12 schools think about AI. Through Intrepid Scholar, I work with independent schools on the practical side of AI in learning: clear expectations for students and teachers, assignment and assessment designs that keep student thinking visible, and professional development that leads to real classroom change. Most schools are stuck between two options right now. Ban AI and watch students use it anyway, invisibly. Or ignore it and live with inconsistent rules and constant conflict. There's a better path. It starts with treating AI as scaffolding, not a shortcut. This work grows directly out of what I've seen in higher education. At Middlebury, I direct MiddCORE, a leadership and innovation program that recently partnered with OpenAI on a deep study of productive AI use in learning. One finding kept surfacing: when students learn how to use AI thoughtfully, critical thinking and reasoning move to the foreground, not the background. I also advise early-stage companies in education and mental health. My NIH-funded research on student mental health has been featured in TIME, CNBC, and The Washington Post. If you're a school leader thinking about AI policy, teacher PD, or parent communication around AI, I'd welcome a conversation. IntrepidScholar.com
I teach and research at the intersection of adolescent development, learning, and well-being. My NIH-funded research on student mental health has been featured in TIME, CNBC, and The Washington Post. I also direct MiddCORE, a leadership and innovation program where students work alongside leaders from organizations including OpenAI, Patagonia, and LEGO. In 2025, MiddCORE partnered with OpenAI on a case study examining productive and ethical AI use in learning. Since then, I have advised college leaders on AI integration and faculty on how to use AI in ways that strengthen rather than replace student thinking.
I founded Intrepid Scholar to help K-12 schools implement learning-first approaches to AI. I work primarily with independent schools on AI policy, teacher professional development, and parent education, grounded in developmental psychology and learning science. IntrepidScholar.com