Women's Leadership Community

October 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Biggio Center, Suite 259A

Leadership and Caretaking: Supporting Our Colleagues and Ourselves

How do we manage the responsibilities of leadership while also caring for children, parents, siblings, or others who depend on us?

At our next Women's Leadership Community event, Drs. Karen McNeal and Steph Shepherd will share stories about leading while caretaking, including how they have supported each other as friends and colleagues through personal and professional challenges.

We'll discuss what support looks like when caregiving demands grow or circumstances become difficult. How can we show up for our colleagues, leaders, and direct reports? What helps, and what do we need from each other?

Come ready to listen, share, and think together about how we can support the people we work with.

Questions or Want to Learn More?

Have questions about this event? Contact us at biggio@auburn.edu. Want to learn more about how the Biggio Center supports teaching and learning at Auburn? Visit our Teaching & Learning Services page.

Dr. Steph Shepherd

Steph Shepherd is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Geosciences at Auburn University. She is also a mother and caregiver to her daughter, who has CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. In addition to her academic research, she has published about her experiences as a woman, mother, and caregiver in academia.

Dr. Karen McNeal

Dr. McNeal is Professor and the Director of the Geocognition and Geoscience Education Research Lab at Auburn University. She is a Discipline-Based Education Researcher and conducts research in the field of geoscience education/geocognition to investigate geoscience teaching and learning challenges in formal and informal settings. Her work measures people's engagement, conceptual understanding, and perceptions about the Earth. McNeal has been awarded over $32M in external research funding and has published 80+ peer reviewed articles. She has been a National Science Foundation Program Director in the Division of Graduate Education, was awarded the 2022 Auburn SEC Faculty Achievement Award, the 2022 National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Geoscience Education Research Transformation Award, has been named both the COSAM Marguerite Scharnagle and Molette Endowed Chairs, was the Past President of the NAGT Geoscience Education Research Division, and Past Editor for Research in the Journal of Geoscience Education. She spends time with her husband, two children, and two dogs and enjoys working out, hiking, and being back in Chicago where she grew up any time she can.