REDgen Speaker on the Benefits of Anxiety

University School of Milwaukee hosted its first speaker series event of the 2024–25 school year through its partnership with REDgen on Wednesday, Aug. 21 with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary. Dennis-Tiwary held an evening event titled “The Anxiety Paradox: Why Helping Kids Feel Bad Can Help Them Feel Good,” which was free and open to the general public. Dennis-Tiwary also spoke to USM’s faculty and staff on Thursday, Aug. 22 as part of the school’s opening meetings ahead of the start of the school year.

In both presentations, she explored how embracing anxiety can foster resilience and growth in children. She used research studies and real-world examples to challenge conventional views on anxiety and offer actionable insights for parents and educators.

Click here to watch a video recording of her presentation to parents.

Dennis-Tiwary is a scientist, entrepreneur, and author of “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For You (Even Though it Feels Bad). She is a professor of psychology and neuroscience; director of the Emotion Regulation Lab at Hunter College, The City University of New York; and co-founder and CSO of Arcade Therapeutics, where she translates cutting-edge neuroscience research into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health. She has been featured throughout the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Today Show, and Bloomberg Television.

Dennis-Tiwary was previously interviewed by Elaine Griffin, USM’s head of Middle School, for a conversation about “Future Tense.” You can read the interview here.

The USM/REDgen Speaker Series is a partnership between University School of Milwaukee and REDgen, a Milwaukee-based organization which fosters active community conversations around what it means to live a healthy, balanced life with authentic success. This is the eighth year of the formal partnership and speaker series events. More information on speakers who visited USM in previous years can be found here.

The next REDgen Speaker Series event at USM, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, will feature Lynn Lyons, author of “Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children.”