Teaching in Higher Ed Teaching, Learning, and the Lessons of Grief
Nov 13, 2025
In this conversation, Christy Albright, a researcher in learning sciences with a theological background, and Clarissa Sorensen-Unruh, a chemistry faculty member focused on pedagogy, delve into the complexities of grief in educational contexts. They explore anticipatory grief and its implications for faculty and students. The discussion touches on how grief can shape resilience and psychological capital, offering strategies for educators to support themselves and their students. Personal anecdotes reveal how grief remains a lifelong companion, emphasizing the importance of compassion in learning environments.
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Stages Of Grief Aren't Linear
- Grief stages are not linear and can overlap or recur in different orders.
- Christy Albright stresses Kubler-Ross intended stages as common experiences, not a strict sequence.
Use Rituals Or Build Your Own Support
- Use rituals and cultural practices to support grieving, but adapt them if harmful for you.
- Create personal supports like 'psychological capital' when community rituals aren't available.
Grief Persists; We Grow Around It
- Grief doesn't end; major losses remain and we 'grow around' them rather than them shrinking.
- Rissa Sorensen-Unruh and Christy Albright describe accumulating griefs that resurface across life events.
