The self discovery process and finding one's identity has grown increasingly complicated with modern technologies like the internet and social media. While all generations have experienced the angst and the uncertainty of becoming adults, is Generation Z experiencing it differently? What is the transition from adolescence to adulthood like for today's youth? And how do the economic landscape and senses of opportunity shape one's perception of ability to reach goals? Does society characterize Generation Z unfairly? Nancy Hill of Harvard will deliver a presentation on this topic, followed by a discussion with Thea Keith-Lucas, MIT's Chaplain to the Institute. 

Nancy Hill is a developmental psychologist whose research focuses on parenting and adolescent development. Hill’s research focuses in on two areas. First, she studies the ways race, socioeconomic status, and community context interact and impact youths’ opportunities for upward mobility, especially through secondary school and postsecondary transitions. Second, her research focuses on the relational supports and mechanisms associated with adolescents’ emerging sense of purpose and views of the economy as they influence post-secondary transitions to college and career. These include familial and school-based supportive relationships and how they support youth as they engage in school, succeed academically and hone their goals, aspirations, and sense of purpose. Hill is known for her work identifying developmentally sensitive strategies to maintain parental involvement in education during adolescence.

After seven years as MIT’s Episcopal Chaplain, Thea Keith-Lucas is the Chaplain to the Institute at MIT, which makes her the university’s primary interfaith chaplain and leader of its Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life. She took on this role in January 2022 after serving in an interim capacity for a year and a half. From 2013 to 2020, Thea served a small community of progressive Christians as the Episcopal Chaplain at MIT. She was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2006 and previously served parishes in Randolph, Mass. and Danvers, Mass.

This event is by invitation only. If you’re interested in attending, please email comm@octetcollaborative.org