A woman with gray hair smiling while sitting at a desk in an office. She is wearing a navy blue off-the-shoulder top and has a notepad, pen, and a computer keyboard in front of her.

Hi, I’m Denise. 

I’m a writer, educator, and researcher of connection. I study how people learn to trust each other—and what happens when they do.

I’m a professor of education at Arizona State University, where I teach future teachers and study how trust, teamwork, and belonging shape our ability to thrive—in classrooms and beyond. My research centers on the small interpersonal skills that make a big difference: listening well, working together, and knowing when (and how) to show up for one another.

What I do.

At home, I’m mom to Thatcher, Cooper, and Mason, and wife to Tim—better known around here as #thecutehusband. We’ve spent the last two decades navigating military life, raising boys, and learning how to stay connected through all kinds of transitions.

Where I come from.

This is a home for writing, reflection, and intentional teaching. You’ll find essays that help you build trust, courses where you can refine your skills, tools for building connection in classrooms, families, and communities.

Because connection matters.

In a lonely world, we need to find more ways to feel like we belong and to ensure that we are building the skills to help us thrive. I can help put the research into practice!

Why this all matters.

At the heart of it.

We build the world we want to belong to by how we show up for each other.

So if you’re here because you want to connect more deeply—with yourself, your students, your team, or your story—you’re in the right place.

You can begin with a free resource, explore the essays, or head to the Start Here page to reflect and find your next step.

Six family members, three adults and three children, standing outside on a sandy path with green grass and palm trees in the background, smiling at the camera.