Sharpening Digital Skills
March 2023
Navigating the world of technology – it’s never too late.
The Myth of the Digital Native
The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 2023
Young adults are whizzes on their phones – but that doesn’t mean they have digital literacy.
It’s Tough to Assess Job Satisfaction
The New York Times, Jan. 20, 2023
Companies keep measuring their workers’ job happiness – but no one is happy.
Saving Gorillas
January 2023
Helping gorillas that don’t live in zoos.
Financial Caregiving
January 2023
Need to help your parents stay on top of their finances? It’s a tough discussion.
Peace Corps at Any Age
November 2022
Many older Americans are serving in the Peace Corps
Racial Justice on Show
The New York Times, Oct. 20, 2022
Two exhibitions at the Queens museum examine Black activism
Colleges Navigating Uncertainty
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 2022
How vulnerable colleges are surviving challenging times.
Community Schools: An Old and Growing idea
The New York Times, Oct. 7, 2022
The pandemic highlighted the need for schools that can provide more than academics.
An Example in New Mexico
The New York Times, Oct. 7, 2022
One community school’s success story.
Not a Pet
October 2022
Exotic animals look fun on the internet – but they may be illegal.
Bringing the Marginalized into the Workforce
Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 2, 2022
Colleges are helping train those recovering from substance use disorders to be part of treatment teams.
Switching Careers Later in Life
July 11, 2022
Public relations professional to nurse. Journalist to therapist. Changing careers can be hard – and rewarding.
Long-Term Care Insurance: A Primer
June 2, 2022
Long-term care insurance may be worth it, but it hasn’t gotten easier to understand.
Adult Care Centers for those with Alzheimer’s
May 11, 2022
Adult Care Centers can be a lifesaver for those caring for people with Alzheimer’s – but know how to choose one.
Virtual Learning – What Colleges Should Know
The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2022
Students, administrators and faculty – different views on remote education.
Title IX at 50
The New York Times, April 27, 2022
A museum exhibit shows the evolution of the landmark gender equality law.
Partners at Home and Work
April 21, 2022
How to work and live together.
Robots and Special Education
The New York Times, March 29, 2022
Researchers are increasingly studying how social robots can help students with disabilities.
Reverse Mortgages and Retirement
March 7, 2022
Understanding this complicated tool.
Virtual Reality Medicine
Jan. 25, 2022
VR can help for physical, mental health needs.
Five Generations in the Workplace
Dec. 17, 2021
How can employers please such an age gap?
The 21st Century Parent
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 2021
How can colleges work with both affluent – and often demanding – parents and low-income and first-generation families?
Diversity and Inclusion
October 2021
What does real diversity, access and inclusion look like among staff and guests and how to work toward it?
A Crusade for No Grades
The Washington Post Magazine, Oct. 20, 2021
What would high school transcripts look like with no grades? And how would that work?
Fist Full of Tears
The New York Times, Oct. 19, 2021
African American art and artists at the Hudson River Museum
Tracking Success
August 2021
Research on how zoos and aquariums can measure how successfully they’re managing their populations
When Your Doctor Retires
Sept. 24, 2021
How to find a good replacement.
Pensions and Insurers
Sept. 1, 2021
More insurance companies are taking over pensions. Is this a good idea?
Travel After Covid
July 8, 2021
What will travel look like in a post-pandemic world?
Serving on a Board
July 2, 2021
You want to join a Board of Directors? Here’s what to do and not to do.
Gardening as You Age
June 1, 2021
Don’t give up gardening as you grow older – there are tools and methods to make it easier.
A Juneteenth Mural Where it Began
The New York Times, May 20, 2021
A giant public art project in Galveston is both sweet and bitter.
A Piece of the Pie
May 2021
Zoos and Aquariums wanted to make sure they got the federal pandemic relief money they desperately needed.
Virtual Reality and Physical Therapy
The New York Times, April 21, 2021
Research shows virtual reality has real promise for physical therapy – and it’s fun
Retirement as a “Solo Senior”
April 8, 2021
More people facing retirement are single and have no children; it’s not always easy, but it can be joyful.
A Pocket Financial Adviser
The New York Times, March 9, 2021
Financial apps are getting more sophisticated and more specialized. But they don’t work if you don’t use them.
Gaming Grandparents
February 23, 2021
Videogaming isn’t just for the young anymore.
A Spendthrift Spouse
February 10, 2021
What to do when your partner likes buying…and buying…and buying?
Setting Sail Under COVID
February 3, 2021
How is the pandemic changing cruises?
Finding Funds in a Pandemic
February 2021
How zoos and aquariums used all their tools -including a sloth – to raise money.
Mental Health Help Later in Life
February 1, 2021
Finding a professional who specializes in treating older patients is critical.
Test-Optional is No Cure-All
PBS/Hechinger Report, Jan. 27, 2021
Not requiring the SAT or ACT might help college diversity, but much more is needed.
Untangling Pension Plans
December 28, 2020
How to know if your plan is in trouble and what you can do.
Finding a Memoirist
December 18, 2020
Finding someone to write your life story.
A Romp Through History
The New York Times, Oct. 23, 2020
Our state constitutions show that progress is not linear
COVID and Faculty Burnout
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 2020
‘Mental exhaustion and radical self-doubt.’
When Only One Spouse Retires
November 20, 2020
When one spouse retires and one doesn’t, chaos (and annoyance) can ensue
A Year Unlike Any Other
The New York Times, Oct. 14, 2020
This year has walloped education as schools have scrambled to teach students remotely, yet some schools and colleges have been amazingly creative in responding.
Long-Term Care Insurance
September 17, 2020
What should you look for in long-term care insurance if you want to age at home?
Why an Elder Care Attorney?
September 15, 2020
What do elder care attorneys do and why might you need one?
Back to School
September 2, 2020
The joys and challenges of returning to school later in life.
The Sandwich Generation
August 26, 2020
It’s never easy juggling caregiving for two generations, but try doing it during a pandemic.
Helicopter Children
August 26, 2020
Do you hover too much over your elderly parents at the risk of infantilizing them?
What I’ve Learned – and Haven’t – About Mindsets
The S-Index
August 2020
It stands for Sustainability Index – a tool to help zoos better manage their collections.
Great Jobs for Retirees
June 3, 2020
Want to help others your age learn online tools? Want to work at a resort? There’s lots of unexpected opportunities out there.
Ethical Wills
May 21, 2020
Leaving your heirs more than your stuff.
Participating in a Clinical Trial
Colleges and Title IX: A Special Report
The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2020
The Chronicle surveyed colleges and universities on the challenges they face with Title IX. There are a lot.
Community-Based Conservation
May 2020
Communities, not just species, need to be the focus of conservation efforts.
John Singer Sargent’s Muse
The Elephant in the Room
Learning to Spot Fake News
Tips for Dating Later in Life
Test-Drive Your Retirement
Swimming with Sharks
How One University Addressed Adjuncts
How Can They Afford That?
Displaying, Not Hiding Slavery
Good-bye SAT?
60 Years of Learning?
The Importance of Names
The Impossible Presidency
Elusive Efficiency
A.I. and Climate Change
“It Kept Failing”
Evaluating Play
A Safe Haven?
Faculty Searches Gone Wrong
Private Matters
A Balancing Act
Artifical Intelligence and Ethics
It’s About the Mission
Coming Together
Self-doubt? Oh Yes!
Intersectionality in the Workplace
Local efforts on Climate Change
Access or Monopoly?
Affordable College Housing?
Wooing Transfer Students
Building Academic Integrity
The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 2018
It’s not enough to catch cheaters. Teachers have to create an environment where students don’t want to cheat.
Of Love, Loss and Basketball
CoveyClub, July 2018
The nest isn’t really empty until they go to work. My essay about changes.
Diversity Hiring: More than Lip Service
The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 17, 2018
One university spent a year restructuring its recruitment and hiring process.
Working Together
May 2018
State AZAs teaming up.
Free Speech on Campus
The New York Times, June 5, 2018
Colleges grapple with balancing free speech and students’ concerns about offensive speech.
A Comeback for Civics
The New York Times, June 5, 2018
In the age of Trump, more schools and universities are worried students don’t know the basics of government. Some are trying innovative approaches to the problem.
A Different Chance for Dropouts
The New York Times, April 5, 2018
Started by Indiana Goodwill, these high schools for dropouts – whatever age – are being emulated around the country.
Where Wolves?
February 2018
Controversy over Mexican wolf recovery.
‘I Was Stuck for So Long’
The New York Times, Nov. 6, 2017
‘I was tired of sitting with my life and being unsuccessful.’
‘Disconnected’ Youth
The New York Times, Nov. 6, 2017
No diploma, no jobs, but an opportunity.
Disappearing Avians
November 2017
A focus on saving local birds.
Who Benefits?
The New York Times Magazine, Sept. 10, 2017
Millions of dollars are spent on promoting the Advanced Placement test to low-income students. Who is benefitting?
Nonwhite Students Slow to Seek Counseling
Mental Health at College
The New York Times, June 7, 2017
Three stories: how colleges are becoming more proactive; a personal story of depression and anxiety; and preparing “emerging adults.”
Global Conservation
May 2017
Saving the pangolin.
Horns, Halos and Heroes
California Magazine, Spring 2017
The science of doing the right thing.
Women and Climate Change
The New York Times, April 2, 2017
Why women play a crucial role.
Musuems Court Teenagers
The New York Times, March 16, 2017
Programs address politics, challenges.
Art at the Zoo
February 2017
Poetry and painting among the animals.
Freshwater Invasives
November 2016
Water under attack.
Hiring a Financial Adviser
October 2016
Cut through the jargon.
Avoiding Chargebacks
October 2016
What’s the best way to do it?
Do you really have to go on college tours?
The Washington Post, August 25, 2016
They’re expensive and repetitive – are they necessary?
It’s Thrilling, It’s Chilling.
The New York Times, August 14, 2016
Will 30-minute commercials sell products?
Revamping Community Colleges to Improve Graduation Rates
The New York Times, June 22, 2016
Community colleges are tackling their dismal drop-out problem in innovative ways.
What You Need to Know About Socially Responsible Investing
June 2016
Does it make a difference?
How to Escape the Student Loan Trap–Before It’s Too Late
May 2016
Take these steps now to save for your children’s education–and keep them out of student debt.
What is CITES?
May 2016
Monitoring international trade.
If the Stock Market Is Making You Nervous, Here’s Where to Put Your Money
April 2016
Smart ways to invest over the long haul, despite recent market jitters.
How to Protect Your Money From Rising Interest Rates
February 2016
Interest rates are finally going up. Do this now and your money will be just fine.
Conservation on Tap
February 2016
Beer and zoos.
The Ad Council: Trying to Stay Relevant
The New York Times, Nov. 22, 2015
The 70-year-old force behind Smokey Bear moves to social media.
Community Collaborations
October 2015
Working together.
Coloring in the Lines
California Magazine, Fall 2015
How racially diverse should universities be?
Molecular Management
August 2015
What sex? What species?
The Public Face
April 2015
Putting your best foot forward.
From Bedtime to the Boardroom
Entrepreneur Magazine, April 2015
Why storytelling matters in business.
Rolling with the Punches at Any Stage of Life
My last column: if there is no such thing as a life without change, why does it feel so difficult?
The Struggle to Be First
California Magazine, Spring 2015
Being the first to go to college in the family – a struggle between school and home.
Engendering Sons
California Magazine, Winter 2014
Is it doable – or even desirable – to raise gender neutral children?
Disclosing Mental Health Issues at Work?
Some are glad – but others regret – telling a boss about psychological problems.
Bread, Milk and Mayhem
Fairwarning.org, September 9, 2014
Vehicle crashes into storefronts are more common – and more preventable – than you may think.
Estate Planning is More Than the Will
Trusted friends and family members need to know how to get access to bank and online accounts, and even your home after you die.
German Crime Novel Comes to America
The International New York Times, June 10, 2014
Anna Maria Schenekel’s first novel was a surprise hit in Germany. Will Americans read it?
Two Decades of Fraud
Almost two thousand victims and nearly $26 million lost. How did it go on for so long?
The Story You Can’t Publish – And Can’t Forget
ASJA Monthly May 2014
I didn’t want to give up on my piece about Sandor Acs and his moment in history. But there were no takers.
In Life and Business, Learning to be Ethical
Research shows most of think we’re more ethical than we really are.
An Alternative to Giving Up the Car Keys
There’s a choice for older drivers between stopping driving and ignoring problems.
Terms of Enrichment
Avenue Magazine, December 2013
Preparing your children for money is as important as preparing money for your children.
In a North Face Jacket, a Reversible Appeal
The New York Times, Nov. 16, 2013
North Face jackets, vests and fleeces are everywhere. Why?
Dealing with a Client who Calls and Calls…
Listen to your gut – if it tells you a client is going to be hellish to work with, run the other way. Here are some telltale signs.
After a Tragedy, the Best Ways People Can Help
It has become all too common – a mass tragedy happens and people rush to donate money to the families. Is there a better way to show our sympathy?
Complaining is Necessary – But Learn to Do It Right
Some people want a complaint-free world. Not me.
You’ve Been Doing a Fantastic Job, Just One Thing…
Too much praise can cloud feedback – the point is to help someone do better, not make them feel better.
How to Trust People
O Magazine, Dec. 2012
Nobody wants to be a sucker. But it’s worse to trust no one.
Understanding the Universal
USC Dornsife Magazine, November 9, 2012
USC’s Shoah Foundation has the world’s largest collection of Holocaust testimony. It is now expanding to other genocides.
That Elusive Diploma
National Journal, September 27, 2012
Getting into college is hard, but staying in is even harder. It takes help – and money.
The Allowance Conundrum
Worth Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2012
When did giving children allowances get so complicated?
Redefining Success and Celebrating the Ordinary
Why do we feel we all have to be so special? When did the term ordinary become so feared?
Has School Fundraising Gone Too Far?
Family Circle, March 2012
Tighter school budgets means more pressure on parents and more ethical questions.
Forget Networking. How to be a Connector
Entrepreneur, Jan. 29, 2012
Connecting is different than networking, but are connectors born or made?
The Old Age Survival Guide
The Atlantic, December 15, 2011
Is there a way to live a longer, happier life?
Marketing to Minorities
National Journal, June 2, 2011
Walking that fine line between ethnic stereotyping and cultural accuracy.
In a Data-Heavy Society, Being Defined By the Numbers
These days, it’s way too easy use Facebook ‘likes’, Twitter followers and other metrics to measure success.
Tiptoeing Out of One’s Comfort Zone (and Back In)
Learning to find the optimal balance of ‘productive discomfort.
Is Mandating Volunteering a Good Idea?
Schools, temples, churches often require children to volunteer. It can have an impact, but has to have meaning and follow-up.
Full-Nest Syndrome
The Atlantic, May 8, 2010
How can kids – and parents – cope when the empty nest becomes a full nest again?
A Boy’s Dream as Slugger Moves to Town
The New York Times, May 2, 2010
No one was more excited than my son when a Mets superstar moved into our town.
For the Dishwasher’s Sake, Easy on the Detergent
Most of use way too much soap in our dishwashers and washing machines. Here’s the amount repairmen say you should use.
If Not Passion for the Job, at Least Warm Feelings
Are we overselling the idea that you need to absolutely love what you do?
Winners Never Quit? Well, Yes They Do.
Sometimes quitting is the right thing to do. It just has to be for the right reasons and in the right way.
How We Think about Mistakes
Even though we’re taught young that we learn from mistakes, as we get older, most of fear and dread making mistakes. But we’re doing ourselves a grave disservice.
Too Busy to Notice You’re Too Busy?
Being busy seems to be a badge of honor. But why is that?
The Dangers of Regifting
Fifty-two percent of people admit to regifting. It’s acceptable – just make sure it’s new. And remove all incriminating evidence.
Iraq in Conflict is His Canvas
The Los Angeles Times, Sept. 25, 2005
Profile of artist Steve Mumford.
Lives in the Balance
Government Executive, Sept. 2003
The federal compensation fund for 9/11 victims – it’s genesis and quandary.
Explaining The Rage
American Journalism Review, Dec. 2001
After the 9/11 attacks: Why is the Muslim world so angry? And why are Americans so shocked?
The Rise and Fall of an Unlikely Drug-Smuggling Ring
The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 19, 2001
Many young Orthodox Jews were lured to fly to Europe and back to smuggle drugs they were told were diamonds.
