On February 13, 2026, HerPath Forward: When the Plan Changes will be published—exactly one year after a moment that changed my life forever.
In February 2025, I was hit by a drunk driver and nearly lost my life. As I worked to heal physically and emotionally, I faced another unexpected loss: I was laid off from a career in higher education that I had dedicated nearly two decades to. In the span of one year, everything I believed was stable—my health, my work, and my sense of identity all shifted.
This book was born from that space.
When Loss Comes in Layers
For many women in higher education, work is more than a job—it is a calling. We serve students, advocate for access, and lead with purpose. When that role is taken away, the grief can feel disorienting and deeply personal. A layoff isn’t just the loss of income; it’s the loss of routine, community, and often, the version of ourselves we worked so hard to become.
After my accident and career loss, I found myself asking questions I had never needed to ask before:
Who am I without my title?
What does purpose look like now?
How do I move forward when the plan no longer exists?
I didn’t have all the answers but I had a pen.
Writing as a Way Back to Yourself
Journaling became my lifeline. Not the polished or performative kind, but honest, unfiltered writing that allowed space for grief, anger, faith, doubt, and hope. Page by page, I began to reconnect with myself beyond the roles I had held. Writing helped me remember that identity is not something we lose—it is something we reclaim.
HerPath Forward: When the Plan Changes is not about rushing healing or pretending loss doesn’t hurt. It is about honoring what was, while giving yourself permission to become something new. It is a guided journal created for women navigating career disruption, particularly those in higher education, who are ready to process their loss and rediscover who they are beyond their work.
More Than a Book: The Work of HerPath Education
HerPath Forward is also an extension of HerPath Education LLC, a consulting and coaching company committed to supporting women and professionals across the higher education landscape.
The journal is not meant to sit alone on a shelf. It is a tool for reflection, reframing, and rebuilding and it is supported by real, hands-on work. Through HerPath Education, I offer:
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Individual and group coaching
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Résumé and cover letter development
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Interview preparation and career strategy
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Staff development workshops and retreats
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Leadership reflection and identity-reframing sessions for higher education teams
Whether working one-on-one or alongside departments and institutions, HerPath Education meets people where they are—during transition, growth, and reinvention. When someone purchases this book, they are not just buying pages to write in; they are connecting with a partner who understands the complexity of careers in education and the human impact of change.
This Book Is for You If…
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You’ve experienced a layoff or unexpected career shift
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You’re grieving the life or career you thought you’d have
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You feel disconnected from your identity outside of your profession
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You’re rebuilding after trauma, loss, or transition
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You want a safe, private space to reflect—and support beyond the page
Even if you’re unsure what comes next, this book meets you where you are.
Becoming Forward
Publishing this book on February 13, 2026, is deeply symbolic. It marks not just survival, but transformation. One year after my life was nearly taken, I am choosing to share what helped me heal in hopes that it helps another woman find her footing again.
Sometimes moving forward doesn’t mean having a clear plan. Sometimes it means writing your way through the uncertainty—one page, one reflection, one honest moment at a time.
If you’re starting over, you’re not alone. And if you’re ready to rediscover yourself—even if it begins by simply writing it down—HerPath Forward and HerPath Education are here to walk that path with you.
Pre-orders and updates coming soon.