This week we will be joined by Layne Scherer (she/her). Layne is a senior program officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she works for the Board on Higher Education and Workforce. Layne recently led an expert committee on the report, Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Supporting the Whole Student. She also had the opportunity to lead the report, Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century, released in 2018. Layne cares deeply about higher education policy, the research enterprise, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Prior to her time at the National Academies, she worked at the National Science Foundation in their directorate for education and human resources.
Layne experiences ADHD, anxiety, depression, and ongoing focus issues related to multiple concussions. In Fall 2020, she took a 3-month leave of absence from work to take time to address her mental health issues. During this time, she was working on a mental health report while experiencing some of the worst symptoms of her life. Layne has also been in the process of exploring multiple identities in her early 30s: adopted, disabled, and queer. During this chat, we will discuss higher education, mental health, student well-being, and identity. Find Layne on Twitter (@LayneScherer).
A full-text transcript of this episode is available via google doc.
Join us each Saturday at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT to talk about maintaining mental health and balance in grad school.
Want to be a guest or know somebody we should be talking to? Fill out our google form!
Follow our host on Twitter: Fay Lin (@xiaofei_lin)
Check out the PhD Balance website for more info on Grad Chat!
