I bring a theoretical perspective and survivor mindset shaped by intergenerational trauma, early life adversity, and cultural resilience. After completing my Ph.D. in philosophy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a postdoctoral fellowship in bioethics at the University of Minnesota, I began teaching undergraduate and graduate interdisciplinary ethics courses in the greater Vancouver area. My international background also informs my work: my father was a psychology professor who held sabbatical appointments at the University of Bristol and the University of Southampton. During those years I lived in England, attending preschool and grade 5, formative experiences of cultural immersion that have contributed to my commitment to inclusivity and global awareness in teaching and writing.

I’m currently writing a book under contract with Bloomsbury Press on Lithuanian-North American identity, ethics, and trauma informed and culturally competent health care. My paternal grandfather shortened his Lithuanian surname, Nagrocki, to “Nicki” in an effort to assimilate in America. My full Lithuanian name, following traditional naming conventions, is Austėja Nagrodskė. “Austėja,” a popular girl’s name, refers to the Lithuanian bee goddess. As a member of the Lithuanian diaspora whose paternal ancestors fled Soviet occupation, I carry both names to honor my bi-cultural identity—an act of cultural resistance and return—and to align with Ukraine, under Soviet siege.

For fun I enjoy painting, singing, dancing, boxing, weight lifting, dog walking, and building inclusive community. I chair the Community Engagement Committee at University Canada West.