G.NOTES

"In the years that I was lucky enough to have Karina as a colleague, she was a model of unwavering commitment to our shared mission, as well as a constant advocate for the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries to create sustainable workplaces. She is an open-hearted and authentic facilitator who can open the door to much-needed conversations about what makes us unwell, and what we need to keep our joy alive in the workplace." ~Joey, Staff

"I have known Karina for several years. Through many deep and honest conversations, I’ve seen her natural ability to guide others with compassion and authenticity. She brings a rare openness to discussions of unwellness, transforming vulnerability into connection and collective growth. Her approach blends intellectual depth with empathy, creating space for honest dialogue that connects theory to lived experience—deepening understanding and advancing wellbeing in meaningful ways." ~Nicole, Staff

"As Dr. Karina's colleague, I have benefitted from her superb skills in planning professional development workshops, facilitating difficult discussions, and assessing the effectiveness of authentic learning. Karina brings a humane expertise to this work, inviting everyone into meaningful conversation and collaboration that advances shared goals. I am continually grateful for her leadership and mentorship, both of which have been transformative in my ongoing journey of disrupting unwellness." ~Tyler, Staff

“I have always appreciated Karina's approach - finding the balance between remaining committed to her vocation while not letting her personal development falter outside of it. This is a balance I have struggled to find and continue to. Karina is honest in her thoughts, ideas, and advice and modeled what that looks like to me as a newer professional in this space. We need more people like her to exemplify what so desperately needs to be seen and heard.” ~Robbie, Staff

"In a cross-institutional, multi-year learning community, Karina regularly supported a group of professionals to re-center on the structures that produce unwellness in academic life, all while embodying vulnerability, care, and relationship-building in her interactions. Her contributions—whether prepared or impromptu—consistently left me changed in some way: pursuing a new line of thinking or feeling recommitted to the value of community care." ~Kendra, Staff

"As an education specialist and fellow educator who has partnered with Dr. Karina for over seven years, and as her friend and colleague, I have full confidence in her ability to lead honest, courageous conversations about educator wellbeing. Karina creates space for staff to acknowledge when things are tough, and I have seen her address obstacles thoughtfully, with compassion and heart, always advocating for practical, caring solutions. I trust her integrity, discretion, and steady commitment to this work." ~Paul, Staff

“I signed up for the Pedagogy of Unwellness workshops to learn about how I can support students in their un/wellness. After engaging in the workshop - hearing Karina’s story, joining genuine group discussions, and participating in guided, empathetic self-reflection - I recognized that my own unwellness may be a barrier in my ability to show up for students. While I typically, regretfully, avoid self-reflection on my own emotional wellbeing, Karina was an open, sympathetic, non-judgmental guide in this process. She really truly listens, and that listening is healing in and of itself. Karina supports self-acceptance, and accepts that we are unwell, but is also driven to provide support and actionable recommendations that can help educators’ and students’ well-being." ~Anonymous, Faculty

"I first interacted with Karina when I signed up for a workshop. Every week, when I walked into the workshop, I knew that I could be my whole self. Karina put in the work to set up norms in our community of learning that was built on openness about our unwellness. In doing that, she helped make preparing for teaching less exhausting; I didn't have to spend any energy on projecting that everything was fine! Even when I would underscore how our students are overwhelmed and overworked, Karina would point out that first we need to account for how we are, and we should take care of ourselves as we prepare for our teaching assignments. I tend to ramble my free thoughts in a community that I feel heard in, and Karina as a discussion facilitator has the incredible ability to paraphrase my rambles into coherent thoughts. In the workshops, I felt heard, understood and valued." ~Saaj, Postdoctoral Scholar

I wholeheartedly recommend Karina as a facilitator in the work of wellbeing. I was fortunate to have been able to consult with her when she worked for the Teaching and Learning commons at UCSD about my teaching as a new faculty member. She offered constructive feedback about ways to improve, but cared enough to spend time affirming all the large and small efforts I was making to create a successful classroom and connect with my students. Most importantly, she helped me take pressure off myself, reminding me of when failures were not my own but the result of deficits on the part of the institution that should have provided me more support. Such perspective is crucial to help instructors avoid burnout and advocate for their own wellbeing. I saw Karina’s passion for supporting personal wellness and growth. She has proven to be well versed on the latest research in this area, and I am confident she will be an effective leader in this ongoing work. ~Monica, Faculty

I've always appreciated how Dr. Viaud creates a space where colleagues feel safe to be their authentic selves, especially during times when life or work feels overwhelming. She truly lives her values—openly sharing her own well-being challenges and showing genuine care for the well-being of those around her. I have had the honor of learning from and alongside Dr. Viaud. She is amazing! ~Anonymous, Faculty