There are certain topics that students find triggering and emotionally difficult. A few examples include suicidality and self-harm, violence, and sexual abuse. It can be tempting to avoid those topics altogether. But these are real and prevalent social ills which ought to be discussed and analyzed in college classrooms.

Evans teaches several classes on mental health, and a lot of the subject matter is quite upsetting and dark. This can make the classroom space tense, and students may be hesitant to participate. Evans has therefore developed strategies to build a sense of trust and camaraderie in the classroom.

In this talk, Evans discusses their experiences constructing syllabi and assignments, communicating with students and managing class discussions in ways that help students feel comfortable having uncomfortable conversations.

Sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters Inclusion and Belonging Committee