I bring a theoretical perspective and survivor mindset shaped by intergenerational trauma, early life adversity, and cultural resilience. I hold a Ph.D. in philosophy from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and did a postdoctoral fellowship in bioethics, trauma studies, and narrative medicine at the University of Minnesota. For many years, I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in applied ethics in the United States and the greater Vancouver area in Canada. Early international travel 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 two separate trips, I attended 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 feminist theory, child welfare issues, mental health ethics, Lithuanian-North American identity, and poetry therapy. After settling in America, my paternal grandfather shortened his Lithuanian surname, Nagrocki, to “Nicki” in an effort to assimilate. 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 art making, singing, dancing, boxing, weight lifting, dog walking, and building inclusive community. I chair the Community Engagement Committee at University Canada West.