Campus Connection

UWL professor discusses identity during transition Sept. 19

Even when transitions in life are positive and exciting, they can be hard on mental health. Moving from high school to college, college to workforce, and starting or ending a romantic relationship all put a strain on a person’s identity. Identity, however, is more than just a personal matter — it is shaped by factors outside of ourselves, says Dawn Norris, UW-La Crosse associate professor of sociology. Norris will lead a presentation and discussion on identifying factors outside of oneself that shape identity from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at UWL’s Institute for Campus Excellence, 150 Murphy Library. The event, “New role, New me? The Challenge of Identity Transitions,” will kick off UWL’s TEDxUWLaCrosse Salon Series this academic year. The salon will include working toward an “action plan” for a successful identity transition. At a TEDx salon, attendees watch TED Talks, listen to speakers, and have discussions about the talks they witnessed. Salons re-engage the audience in the presentation model through the critical element of lively discussions, allowing attendees to actively participate in the event and shape the conversation. [caption id="attachment_49723" align="alignright" width="268"] Dawn Norris, UWL associate professor of sociology.[/caption] About Dawn Norris Dawn R. Norris is an associate professor of sociology and a veteran of many identity transitions. She takes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to study the intersections of identity, age, mental health and work/occupations, with a special focus on identity transitions. Her new book, “Job Loss, Identity, and Mental Health,” examines what losing a job means for people’s identities and how that understanding affects their mental health. Norris has also published in journals such as Symbolic Interaction, Research on Aging, and Teaching Sociology. She lives in La Crosse with her husband and two cats named after sociologists. If you go — Who: Dawn Norris, UWL associate professor of sociology What: TEDxUWLa Crosse Salon Series presentation and discussion “New Role, New Me?: The Challenge of Identity Transitions” When: 2-3:30 p.m Tuesday, Sept. 19 Where: UWL’s Institute for Campus Excellence, 150 Murphy Library Admission: Free