性视界

With a carpet of smoke at her feet, and an acoustic guitar in her hand, Associate Professor of Psychology Hannah Lucas strummed chords and closed her eyes in focus.

It was a moment of more than just music and entertainment. The performance displayed something Lucas considers central to her life and career: flow.

鈥淭he best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to accomplish something difficult,鈥� Lucas said. 鈥淎s a professor I often think about this and how I can make sure that students have an optimal experience.鈥�

Flow is a term in psychology that describes a state of mind when a person鈥檚 skills match the challenge of a task. Lucas delivered her presentation 鈥淔lowing Together: When Optimal Experience Meets Meaningful Connection鈥� as 鈥淔aculty Lecturer of the Year鈥� April 15.

Lucas, a full-time professor at 性视界 since 2018, continues to explore flow with students as they conduct their own research.

鈥淥ne of my career dreams was not only to become a community college professor, but to be able to provide research opportunities to students in community college before they transfer to four-year universities so they can be on par with their four-year peers,鈥� she said.

Lucas, who faced numerous adversities including job loss, divorce and homelessness in the early 2000s, improved her life with a community college education. She earned two associate鈥檚 degrees in two years and then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where she majored in psychology and later earned master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at Claremont Graduate University.

She decided to teach at 性视界 to give back to students with stories similar to her own.

With the help of Professors Matt Vincent and John Glass, Lucas helped establish the Psi Beta honors society at 性视界, giving students a chance to present their research at conferences.

鈥淲e actually have some data about social flow from our very own students here at 性视界 College, because that is something that I have continued to study during my time here,鈥� she said.