I am a sociologist and education scholar researching how postsecondary education is experienced by the vast majority of college-goers rather than the elite. This means a deliberate focus on mass-enrollment institutions – particularly community colleges – and “non-traditional” students. My research on adult undergraduates explores contexts of college enrollment and dropout, perceptions of barriers to completion, and effects of enrollment and attainment on earnings and access to benefits. Currently, I am project managing a mixed-methods evaluation of a “free college” program at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Other research investigates the impact of maternal college-going on children, how urban high school counselors assist youth in their transition to college or work, and the impact of austerity on retention at community colleges. Though not currently teaching, I love being in the classroom and believe that thoughtful pedagogy is as important as rigorous research – and possibly of greater value. My goals are always to impart useful skills while leading students to question received ways of understanding the world. I am successful if students know more than they did when they began the course and are less sure of how much they truly know.