Our Staff
Ridge joined the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope (PoH Office) in the Fall of 2022 as a Graduate Assistant and is excited to step into the Program Coordinator role. While supporting the transformative work happening within the PoH Office, Ridge is concurrently pursuing his Doctorate in School Psychology here at Gonzaga University. Through his work in both the PoH Office and the School Psychology Department, Ridge is committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, re-imagining oppressive systems, and leading change. Please reach out to Ridge anytime if you would like to collaborate!
Our Faculty
Dr. Monica Bartlett is the inaugural Faculty Director for the PoH Office. Dr. Bartlett comes to us from the undergraduate Psychology Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University, where she runs the Positive Emotion and Social Behavior Lab and teaches courses like The Psychology of Poverty and Social Class and Human Flourishing. Dr. Bartlett’s research focuses on gratitude and its role in building relationships and boosting wellbeing and has been widely cited by the scientific community and the press. Dr. Bartlett is a passionate teacher, committed to uncovering American structures of inequality and the stereotypes that underlie them.
Selected Publications:
- Bartlett, M.Y. & Arpin, S.N. (2019). Gratitude and loneliness: Enhancing health and well-being in older adults. Research on Aging.
- Bartlett, M.Y., Valdesolo, P. & Arpin, S.N. (2019). The paradox of power: The relationship between gratitude and self-esteem. The Journal of Social Psychology.
- Williams, L.A. & Bartlett, M.Y. (2014). Warm thanks: Gratitude expression facilitates social affiliation in new relationships via perceived warmth. Emotion, 15, 1-5.
- Bartlett, M.Y., Condon, P., Cruz, J., Baumann, J. & DeSteno, D. (2012). Gratitude: Prompting behaviors that build relationships. Cognition and Emotion, 26, 2-13.
- DeSteno, D., Bartlett, M.Y., Baumann,J., Williams, L.A., & Dickens, L. (2010). Gratitude as moral sentiment: Emotion-guided cooperation in economic exchange. Emotion, 10, 289-293.
- Bartlett, M.Y. & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: Helping when it costs you. Psychological Science, 17, 319-325.
Selected Media:
- Thanksgiving and Gratitude: The Science of Happier Holidays, Featured in wsj.com, November 28, 2014, By Jason Marsh and Dacher Keltner
- Guest on AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast. “A Disposition, Not Just a Holiday,” 2019.
- "Why Gratitude Is Wasted on Thanksgiving," Featured in New York Times Opinion piece, November 23, 2019.
Our Graduate Assistants
Martina Folowell Nix, Graduate Assistant
Martina is a new Graduate Assistant in the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope through Research and Practice (PoH Office). She brings a vast skillset to this role with work experience ranging from state governmental agencies, local k-12 districts, and higher education. She is adept at developing community resources and advocating for underserved populations. Martina is a native Hungarian speaker and a first-generation college student pursuing her Doctorate in School Psychology here at Gonzaga University. As a new Graduate Assistant in the PoH Office, she is excited to promote equity and foster transformative practices. While participating in the Gonzaga University experience, she hopes her work will create a more inclusive and compassionate educational experience for all.
Molly McDermott, Graduate Assistant
Molly joined the PoH office in spring of 2024 as a Graduate Assistant. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in School Psychology at Gonzaga University. Molly brings a background in Psychology, Spanish, and mental health support in school-based settings. While her goals include transforming education for all students from traditionally marginalized communities, as a future school psychologist, she is particularly passionate about implementing evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable practices for students with disabilities.
Miriam Carlson, Graduate Assistant
Miriam Carlson is excited to join the PoH office as a Graduate Assistant, where she looks forward to contributing to innovative and transformative educational initiatives at Gonzaga University and within the broader community. As an immigrant and practicing school psychologist, she brings a unique perspective to the mission of fostering inclusive and equitable educational practices. Currently pursuing a Psy.D. in School Psychology, Miriam has a diverse background from her various roles in educational and volunteer settings. As she begins her role at the PoH Office, Miriam is enthusiastic about collaborating on initiatives that drive meaningful change. She is dedicated to utilizing her expertise to help reimagine systems and lead progressive educational reforms at Gonzaga University and beyond.