Kelly Kamish

Kelly Kamish (she/they) is an Assistant Director in the Center for Campus life and she oversees the Women and Gender program. Kelly received their doctorate degree in Education Leadership from the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies and Sociology from Madonna University. In her free time, she is the president of a local chorus and she enjoys cross-stitching and true crime documentaries.

1. HOW DO YOU TEACH OR EXEMPLIFY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING?

Part of my role is working one-on-one with students who are struggling through interpersonal conflicts. Critical thinking encourages students to take a step back and understand the impact of their actions. We spend a lot of time talking about boundaries, which are essential for healthy interpersonal relationships. Establishing personal boundaries requires a high level of self-reflection and understanding of one’s own needs, and it takes time to get students to a point where they are able to do that. I challenge students to work through the hard stuff so we can get to a point of personal growth.

2. WHY DO YOU THINK APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING IS IMPORTANT IN YOUR DOMAIN OR ROLE?

My role involves a lot of moving parts, and it is important for me to see the bigger picture. To be successful in my role, I have to understand the needs of the students I serve as well as the campus as a whole. It is also important to stay up-to-date on current trends, and gather information on best practices in the field. I have grown to incorporate critical thinking into my work over time, because I have a deeper understanding of our students and our culture. When I see something exciting happening at another institution, I think about the ways I could adapt it to meet our student’s needs.

3. CAN YOU SHARE A STORY WHERE QUALITY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING WAS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS?

The best example of this was when I was writing my dissertation, which was a decision-making analysis. My research focused on supporting LGBTQ+ college students. I had to gather background information, meet with stakeholders, assess the needs of the community, and ultimately make a recommendation for a model that would be the most successful. It was a 16-month long process, but the product was something I am proud of! And this is something that informs my daily work as well!

4. HOW DO YOU USE CRITICAL THINKING IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE OF RIT?

I am a pragmatic person, almost to a fault. I have processes and systems for everything I do. I automate the things that I am able to, and utilize various organizational techniques to keep my life running smoothly. I keep a daily task list, and each task is color-coded based on the amount of mental energy necessary to complete the task. Red tasks require a lot of energy, yellow tasks are low energy or neutral, and green tasks give me energy.

5. ANY LAST CRITICAL THOUGHTS YOU WISH TO SHARE?        

Critical thinking is a skill, and like all skills, it develops over time!