About

Joelle Adams

Joelle is an experienced educator, researcher, and coach, whose purpose in life is to help others self-actualize and self-transcend, through research, teaching, writing, and public speaking.

She is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Transpersonal Psychology, focusing on the process of integrating and transmuting psychedelic and other exceptional experiences (e.g. near-death, out-of-body, kundalini activation, spontaneous spiritual awakening, lucid and/or precognitive dreams, shamanic journey, alien/UFO, or similar).

Joelle also holds a certificate in Transpersonal Coaching Psychology, with a focus on integrating psychedelic and other exceptional experiences; a Master's degree in Professional Practice in Higher Education; and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature.

She recently completed a Professional Certificate in Psychedelics, Altered States, and Transpersonal Psychology, with a focus on the integration of psychedelic and other exceptional experiences.

Other current roles and projects include

tenured faculty member in the English Department at Santa Monica College
creating and leading faculty wellbeing course
curriculum development as Lead for MAPS Canada's School of Psychedelics

Joelle's past research includes projects on midlife transformation, faculty wellbeing, inspirational teaching, academic writing and supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds.

In addition to exploring altered states of consciousness and improved wellbeing, Joelle enjoys yoga, midcentury design, NFL football (go Niners!), hiking, travel, running, photography, dancing, strong British tea and black coffee, a good autumn coat, live music, and reading John Irving, Graham Greene, and Joan Didion.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Adams, J. (2025) Pathways to Integration: Processing Psychedelic and Other Exceptional Experiences. MAPS Canada Research Room Webinar.

Adams, J. and Moore, D. (2025). Integrating Exceptional Experiences: Psychedelics, NDEs, and Lucid Dreaming. Breaking Convention, Exeter, UK. Conference Presentation. April 2025.

Adams, J. (2024). Midlife Metamorphosis: a transpersonal consideration of midlife. Eurotas: Creative Bridges, Oxford UK. Conference Paper. September 2024.

Adams, J., Hess, R., Luke, D., & Newitt, L. (2024). Reflections on the Exceptional Human Experience Process Map in the Age of the Psychedelic Renaissance. Eurotas: Creative Bridges, Oxford UK. Roundtable. September 2024. (forthcoming)

Adams, J. (2024). Universal Design for Learning: What’s Your Intention? Keynote. Winter Institute, Santa Monica College. Santa Monica, CA.

Adams, J. (2022). Reclaiming Joy: A Transpersonal Approach to Faculty Development. Pre-Conference Workshop. POD. Seattle.

Adams, J. (2022). Conscious Education: Reconnecting to Ourselves. Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Ottawa.

Adams, J., et al. (2020). Supporting Non-Tenure-Track Faculty: Innovative Campus Models. AAC&U Webinar.

Adams, J., et al. (2020). Learning from Leaders Receiving the Delphi Project Award–Supporting Contingent Faculty. AAC&U Conference Presentation. Washington, DC.

Adams, J. (2018). Equitable Assessment and Feedback for Student Writing. California Acceleration Project Annual Conference. Sacramento, CA.

Adams, J. (2017). Assessment and Feedback in the Equitable College Composition Classroom. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Portland, OR.

Adams, J. (2016). Simplifying Assessment. Winter Faculty Institute. Santa Monica College. Workshop. Santa Monica, CA.

Adams, J. (2015). An Academic Literacies Approach to Peer Tutoring. In T. Lillis, K. Harrington, M. R. Lea, & S. Mitchell (Eds.), Working with Academic Literacies: Research, Theory, Design. Parlor Press.

Jensen, K., Adams, J., & Strickland, K. (2014). Inspirational Teaching: Beyond Excellence and Towards Collaboration for Learning with Sustained Impact. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 2(2). http://jpaap.napier.ac.uk/index.php/JPAAP/article/view/88/pdf

Adams, J., & McNab, N. (2014). Understanding Arts and Humanities Students’ Experiences of Assessment and Feedback. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 12(1), 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022212460

Adams, J. (2013). Feedback for Sustaining Professional Creative Practice. Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Cape Breton, Canada.

Adams, J. (2012). The Need for Inspirational Teaching. Ignite Bath, UK.

Adams, J. (2011). Investigating Peer Tutoring for Academic Writing Support in a UK University. Journal of Academic Writing, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.18552/joaw.v1i1.1

Adams, J. (2011). E-feedback for Improved Learning and Experience. International Conference on Teaching and Learning and Learning in Higher Education. Meleka, Malaysia.

Adams, J. (2009). Supporting the Writing of Widening Participation Students. Conference on College Composition and Communication. San Francisco, CA.