How Delve In Began

My work is rooted in the art of improvisation, which reveals the deeply relational nature of being human—where everything we do is shaped by our connections with others. As I trained, performed, and taught improvisation, I became fascinated by its relevance to critical social work practice, qualitative research, and creative inquiry. Improvisation’s unscripted, in-the-moment dynamics—creating, listening, and responding—challenge us to consider interdependence and relational accountability in new ways.

This curiosity guided (and greatly complicated) my academic research, where I explored how relational practices—rooted in critical social work theories—could intersect with the art of improvisation. Improvisation, as a way of knowing, makes relational dynamics visible and embodied, politicizing the practice as one that challenges how we connect, create, and engage with one another. Through workshops, dialogue, experimentation, feedback, and reflection, I developed methods to help people—both inside and outside of academia—engage more thoughtfully, bravely, and creatively with one another.

This work is deeply personal to me. As a feminist and improviser, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for presence - how we show up - and for paying attention. I am attuned to how different ways of being and knowing are often squeezed out, or squeezed into harmful shapes - this drives my commitment to listening,  justice,  and artful practice. These foundations shape my work: creating spaces for meaningful, courageous, and transformative work together.

How Delve In Evolved

Building on this foundation, my role in leading the development of an art and research centre—made possible through my postdoctoral partnership with McMaster University’s Community Research Platform—expanded these ideas further. Working at the intersection of art and interdisciplinary research, I collaborated with artists, researchers, and community organizations to challenge traditional approaches to inquiry—asking critical questions about what research is and what it can be. This work emphasized how art calls forward new ways of understanding while also requiring specific tools, ethical frameworks, and relational practices to thrive in interdisciplinary contexts.