Square Pegs

In this episode of the Square Pegs podcast, we are joined by Autumn Deitrick, an engineering education doctoral student at The Pennsylvania State University. At the time of recording, she was finishing her master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and entering the doctoral program at Penn State.

Autumn discusses her experiences throughout her K-12, undergraduate, and ...

On this episode of Square Pegs, we are joined by Connie Syharat, a doctoral student in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. Connie shares reflections about her experiences working on neurodiversity-related research within UConn’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, culminating with a discussion of her current research as part of a team investigati...

On this episode of Square Pegs, we are joined by Dr. Nadia Kellam, Associate Professor of Engineering Education at Arizona State University’s Fulton School of Engineering. Her research explores the unique strengths faculty with ADHD bring to the research environment. Today’s conversation reflects on the strides that have been made in recent years in (re)educating faculty to think and teach in a more neuroinclusive way, and the prog...

On this episode of Square Pegs, we are joined by Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, a PhD student at Vanderbilt University and the Program Coordinator of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. Jessica brings a unique and compelling perspective to our conversation around neurodiversity. She recounts her struggles to be “normal” prior to her autism diagnosis in adulthood, and the complicated dynamic of masking that most neurodiverse peopl...

Today on Square Pegs we are joined by Charlotte Fuqua, a first-year PhD student in Chemistry at UConn. Charlotte, who returned to higher education later in life, understands the importance of strong mentorships and support systems for neurodiverse students. Her story of resilience and crafting the environment to facilitate her own success shows both the trials and triumphs faced by many in the neurodiverse community. Our conversati...

On today’s episode of Square Pegs we are joined by Maggie Melo, an Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. Maggie recently wrote an op-ed on the value of ChatGPT, especially as a tool for neurodiverse learners, for "Inside Higher Ed" and she joins us to discuss the paradigm shift ChatGPT represents. As higher education engages in a fierce debate over what role, if any, ChatGPT s...

Today, we welcome Kianjai Huggan, a current graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at Harvard University. Kia also has an undergraduate degree in engineering and is a CEO of her startup company, Webquity, which she launched with the goal of increasing online accessibility for all kinds of learners.

Kia looks back on how early experiences with robotics sparked her interest in engineering and inspired her path as an...

Today, we are joined by special guest Dr. Joyce Kamanitz, a psychopharmacologist with over 35 years of experience in the medical field. We also welcome back Dr. Lexi Hain, who rejoins the conversation as a co-host as we explore how limitations in the medical and educational systems can shape our experiences and sense of self.

The conversation gets personal as Dr. Zaghi takes us back to his initial diagnosis with ADHD by Dr. Kamanit...

This time, we chat with Dr. Caitlin O’Brien, a graduate who recently completed her doctoral degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Connecticut and is now working in the engineering industry.

Caitlin shares pivotal moments in her life, including her diagnosis with ADHD as a senior in high school, challenges and moments of success in her academics, and lessons that contributed to her personal growth. Insightful and sel...

Welcome back to Square Pegs, a series of discussions about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the UConn School of Engineering. In each episode we talk to current and former neurodiverse graduate students from across the Academy. Today we are chatting with Dr. Angela Lanning, a recent UConn Structural Engineering graduate who studied with Dr. Zaghi. Angela shows ho...

Welcome back to Square Pegs, a series of discussions about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the UConn School of Engineering. In each episode we talk to current and former neurodiverse graduate students from across the Academy. Today we are chatting with Katherine Fleck, a 2nd year Ph.D. student in molecular biology at the University of Connecticut with ADHD.

Kat...

Welcome back to the Square Pegs podcast, a series of discussions about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the UConn School of Engineering. In each episode we talk to current and former neurodiverse graduate students from across the Academy. Today we are joined by Asia Perkins, who is pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at UConn. Join us for a fruitful discussi...

Welcome to episode one of Square Pegs, a series of discussions about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the UConn School of Engineering.  In each episode we will dive into the experiences of a neurodiverse former graduate student to explore the trials and tribulations they felt while navigating their way to the top of the ivory tower. We hope you’ll find valu...

Introducing Square Pegs, the podcast about neurodiversity in academia with host Arash Zaghi, UTC Professor in Engineering Innovation at the University of Connecticut. Listen in as Arash interviews students and professors with neurodiverse work and life experiences. 

Like what you’re listening to? Follow Square Pegs @squarepegspod on Twitter and Instagram. Have an experience, comment, or question that you want to share? Send us...