From prison prose to prioritizing social justice: Dr. Ed de St. Aubin navigates narratives in unexpected places

Growing up in a large, Irish Catholic family in Chicago, Dr. Ed de St. Aubin found an unconventional source of comfort - funerals. The sixth of seven children with 47 first cousins, the backdrop of his developmental years was heavily influenced by the constant hum of sensational stories from extended family.

"It's weird, but I liked funerals because it meant huge family gatherings and three days of storytelling," de St. Aubin says. "I don't communicate like most of my family; the norm was loud and talking over everyone. My mother would joke that, unlike her other children, I thought before I spoke. It always seemed to me that we should all do that."

The associate professor of psychology now uses those relational skills to help others as a narrative psychologist.

Incarceration classroom

During his 26-year tenure at Marquette, de St. Aubin has cultivated a safe space for self-expression in The Narrative Self, a course offered through the Educational Preparedness Program to create higher education pathways for currently and formerly incarcerated community members.

Once a week, Marquette students travel 30 minutes to the Racine Correctional Institution for the in-person class. Bringing together 10 students from Milwaukee and 10 from Racine, the class explores how people build their own life stories. Students examine where their personal narratives come from, how society influences their self-image and how defining a personal story can create a deeper sense of purpose.

"The whole class is based on how contemporary narrative psychologists understand people through story," de St. Aubin says. "My hope is that the course results in personal growth and enlightenment. Reflection and honest life review have been promoted as a path to wisdom and serenity for centuries. This course provides an opportunity for that."

Psychology major Mia Paolela initially felt nervous about taking de St. Aubin's course. Now a senior, she finds herself enjoying the balance of the class - connecting with her Milwaukee peers while hearing the unique stories of the students from Racine.

"You have to remember that the Racine students have different life experiences than Milwaukee students," Paolela says. "This class has been beyond unique. It has allowed me to experience something new, and it also helps the Racine students connect with the outside world. One of my biggest takeaways from this class will be the power of narrative to humanize rather than stereotype."

Caring for the community

Another way that de St. Aubin prepares his students for the real world is through psychology and social justice internships in Milwaukee. His program is designed to provide students with an immersive experience that integrates field work, scholarship and reflection, and contributes to the missions of Milwaukee agencies engaged with social justice work.

There are four pathways from which to choose: justice impacted citizens, domestic violence, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and support and faith and social justice. De St. Aubin says the internship helps gets students off campus and learn with people who have a different lived experience.

"Through the internship, I'm hoping they not only learn job readiness and soft skills, but also the importance of confidentiality and sharpening their values while getting a deeper understanding of income inequality and the beauty of people from different backgrounds," he says. "I hope it deepens their sense of who they are and how they connect to the world."

Alexis McDermott, a junior studying psychology, cognitive science, and social welfare and justice, is now in her second year of de St. Aubin's internship program.

"Last year, I worked at the office of the public defender as a client services specialist intern," McDermott says. "This year, I'm completing research and evaluation work at Sojourner Family Peace Center, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence as they work to rebuild their lives."

The off-campus experience has given McDermott a broader world view from which to create transformative connections.

"Ed supports his students in a way that goes beyond academics," she says. "He guides them, challenges them and helps shape their futures. This level of mentorship is one of the greatest benefits of attending a smaller institution like Marquette. Professors know your name, understand your goals, and actively work to help you succeed."

De St. Aubin consistently leans into the Jesuit tenet of cura personalis - or "care for the whole person," which comes as no surprise to those who know him, like former Associate Director of Campus Ministry Dr. Susan Mountin. She worked at Marquette for nearly 50 years.

"Ed is always so creative as he approaches teaching and seems to find ways to connect with his students by asking them to explore the kinds of questions they talk about with friends," Mountin says. "He then has a unique way of linking their questions with the academic content of the course. Needless to say, I'm in the Ed de St. Aubin fan club and value him so much as a colleague and a friend."

At 61, de St. Aubin says his work is far from done. And his off-campus work is just as impressive. For over 20 years, he has served on the board of Project RETURN, which helps individuals who have experienced incarceration make a positive, permanent return to community, family and friends. He serves as an evaluation specialist for Circles of Support and has given over 80 presentations to inmates in Wisconsin prisons.

"I'm not thinking about retiring anytime soon," de St. Aubin says. "I learn so much from students and how they see the world, their anxieties and their joys. I also fell in love with the Jesuit philosophy of community and pedagogy," de St. Aubin says. "I've just been given a lot."